.Attack on property barbaric, says gov
Benue State Government and Yion Development Association (YIDA) have debunked reports that the residence of Second Republic governor, Aper Aku, was razed by youths of Mbayion in Gboko Local Council.
Affirming a rebuttal by the community was a disclaimer from the office of Governor Hyacinth Alia, signed by his Special Assistant on Media, Asortar James Asortar.
In a statement, yesterday, the eight monarchs of the Yion clan and the President-General, OrverYongu, noted with grave concern and disapproval the destruction of the residence of Comfort, whose husband is Aku’s relative.
The statement reads: “The council strongly condemns the attack and burning of a house located at Adi Agor Village, reportedly owned by one Mrs Comfort Aku and describes the action as callous and alien to the culture and tradition of the people of Mbayion. It equally condemns reported hostile actions against security agencies drafted to keep peace in the area, to prevent the situation from escalating.
“The council uses this occasion to inform all and sundry of the historic, cordial and respectful relationship between Mbayion and the family of the late Aper Aku. In their usual peaceful and honest nature, the Mbayion people unreservedly returned to the late Akua Aku, son of the former governor, eight plots each measuring 100×100 in the heart of Gboko town, which our respected former governor bought in his lifetime from Mbayion vendors. The vendors involved leaders of the Mbayion to voluntarily and willingly hand over the land to the late Akua Aku at a meeting he attended with his kinsmen.”
Cautioning against sensational reportage of the situation and hasty generalisation about the incident, the council urged the public to allow security agencies to conduct their investigations to unravel issues surrounding the incident and bring every culprit to book.
The state government clarified that the house razed by hoodlums in the Gboko area of the state belongs to a relative of the former governor.
The Guardian gathered that if not for the intervention of residents the police, the inferno would have consumed all those living in the property.
Six occupants of the house were said safely rescued and evacuated before the hoodlums burnt the house, the daughter of the late governor, Deborah Aku, told journalists in Makurdi.
However, Olomon Lorpev, Technical Advisor to the Governor on Media, Publicity and Strategic Communication, clarified the ownership of the house in a statement.
Governor Alia described the attack as “barbaric” and condemned the destruction of any property within the state.
“While the governor of Benue condemns in strong terms the destruction of any property within the state, it should be clear that the residence that was attacked belonged to MrItyungu Aku, a relative of the former governor, situated in Mbayion near the former Ter Gboko Akaahan Adi’s house,” Lorpev added.
