Benue gov orders chiefs to produce killers of 2 cattle traders

Governor Hyacinth Alia of Benue State at the weekend condemned the killing of two cattle traders, who were members of the Cow Dealers Cooperative Society, Katsina-Ala chapter of the state by alleged gangsters operating around the Kwande axis.

Alia handed the condemnation during a peace meeting, at Jato-Aka Council Hall, where a delegation of the state government, stakeholders of the local government, and the representative of the association met to brainstorm on investigation into the matter.

The governor, who also ordered traditional rulers of the area to produce the criminals, disclosed that the cattle traders were conveying cows, bags of rice, and live goats, to the eastern part of the country, through Nyihemba community on a thoroughfare, where their truck fell leading to the ugly incident.

Represented by the Secretary to the State Government (SSG), Prof. Joseph Alkali, the governor expressed sadness over the attack, and directed the chiefs who are custodians of the communities, to produce the criminals believed to be youths within the communities.

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He gave the traditional rulers seven days to identify and produce the criminals, pledging to mitigate the losses by the traders, including the two cattle traders who lost their lives in the heinous act.

Also, the Special Adviser to the Governor on Special Duties and Intergovernmental Affairs, Fidelis Unongo, who hails from the area and was part of the state government delegation, expressed disappointment for such an act to have taken place in a region that is already benefiting so much from the governor’s innovative administration.

The Secretary, Cow Dealers Cooperative Society, Katsina-Ala LGA Chapter, Alhaji Muniru Bawa, said out of the members on the truck, two were killed by the criminals, while 11 others were still missing.

On his part, the Mue-Ter Ichongo Baver, confirmed the reports and explained that the community was disturbed by the incident and was already working with the local security agencies on the ground to ensure justice was done.

Baver further explained that the youths who acted out of order would be arrested and handed over to security agencies as directed by the governor, adding that such acts brought shame and insecurity to the community.