By Amos Aar
THE SENIOR Special Assistant (SSA) to Benue State Governor on Youth Mobilisation and Empowerment, Hon. Mkeennem Moses, has called on President Bola Tinubu to look into the worsening security situation in Benue State.
Mkeenem, who made the call Friday at a press conference in Makurdi, congratulated Tinubu on his victory at the Supreme Court on Thursday and appealed to him to settle down and address the challenge of insecurity in Benue in order to resettle Internally Displaced Persons (IDPs) in their ancestral homes.
While he thanked the president for various appointments given to Benue State so far, Hon. Mkeenem who asked for more of the appointments appealed to President Tinubu to “wave his magic wand on the security situation bedeviling the state.”
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He also called on youths from the neighbouring states of Nasarawa, Taraba, Kogi and Cross River to collaborate with Benue youths to achieve peace and unity in the state and protect its territorial integrity.
He also condemned the activities of armed militia suspected to be Fulani herdsmen on the boundary areas that have affected people from the local governments of Logo, Guma, Kwande, Ukum, Katsina-Ala, Makurdi, Gwer-west, Agatu, and Ogbadibo.
“We call on the federal government and various security agencies to expedite actions and curb the security situation in these local governments so that farming activities and businesses will strive, as these have greatly affected the youth in these local governments who are the active population that engage in farming activities and businesses.
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“My office and the entire youth of Benue are making a renewed and passionate appeal to herders who are still grazing on peoples farm land in the state and causing Mayhem, killing people and raping our wives, mothers, and sisters to desist forthwith as this may not be condoned any longer,” he stressed.
He added: “We are aware of the internal security challenges being faced including armed robbery, kidnappings, banditry, and illicit activities such as illegal taxation in markets and public spaces carried out by some youth, be rest assured, such criminal acts will not be tolerated under my supervision in the state”.
Hon. Mkeenem assured that as the Senior Special Assistant on Youth Mobilization and Empowerment, he will engage, inspire, and empower the youth of Benue State, asserting that “the potential of any society lies within its younger generation, and it is our responsibility to provide them with the necessary tools, opportunities, and guidance to thrive and succeed
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“On the activities of students who are part of the youth cycle, I urge you to align yourself with the blueprint of His Excellency Governor Hyacinth Alia to enjoy the dividends accruable to students in his administration. My office will collaborate with security agencies to curb any form of social vices like cultism, drug abuse, etc. among Benue students”, he said. Mkeenem called on Benue people in the diaspora to join hands with Governor Alia to bring up ideas that will help in developing Benue State.
