Protesting pensioners on Tuesday evening finally vacated the premises of Benue State Government House in Makurdi after seven days of laying siege on the premises.
The protesters under the aegis of Concerned Pensioners had earlier rejected several pleas made by Governor Samuel Ortom, Senator Gabriel Suswam and other prominent leaders in the state including CAN to quit their protest while the government source money to pay them their entitlements.
However, chairman of the protesting pensioners, Peter Ikyado, at 5:05pm on Tuesday announced to newsmen in Makurdi that, they have decided to return back to their homes following interventions from different quarters.
“The governor has agreed to meet with our leaders by 11:00am tomorrow (Wednesday). I hereby direct members to vacate to their homes and let us converge at St. Theresa Secretariat tomorrow for our meeting,” Ikyado said.
Earlier, security was beefed following attempt by some hoodlums to attack protesting pensioners.
Daily Trust gathered that some hoodlums allegedly armed attempted to attack the pensioners at about 5:00am as the protest enters seventh day while they slept at the entrance of the government house.
It was learnt that security operatives however chased the hoodlums away even as the disturbances was said to have caused minor pandemonium among the protesting pensioners.
Some of the protesters however told our correspondent in Makurdi that they were not deter by the development and would continue to occupy the government house space until they receive their payment.
The State Commissioner of Police, Garba Mukkadas, also led his men to appeal to the pensioners to quit the protest so as to prevent hoodlums from taking advantage of them.
