The Benue State government has promised to address the concerns of Igede youth and other groups who have threatened to protest over ongoing attacks by the Bonta Militia on Ukpute.
On Monday, in Makurdi, Hon. Moses Mkeenena, the Senior Special Assistant to the Governor on Youth Mobilisation and Empowerment, urged the agitated youths to avoid violence. He assured them that their demands would be handled promptly.
The government acknowledged the groups’ concerns and emphasized the importance of both Ukpute and Bonta communities cooperating with Governor Hyacinth Alia’s peace efforts, especially given the recent attacks by Fulani herdsmen in the state.
Despite its efforts to broker peace, the government has not remained silent about the hostilities between Ukpute and Bonta. It is actively working towards a peaceful resolution.
During a meeting called by the state government, the Igede groups, led by Comr. Andyson Iji Egbodo, National President of the Igede Youth Council, demanded an immediate redefinition of the disputed boundary between Bonta and Ukpute or the establishment of a buffer zone to prevent further violence against Ukpute people by Bonta militias.
The groups presented a seven-page document titled “Protest Address to His Excellency, Rev Fr. Hyacinth Alia, the Executive Governor, Benue State, over the Incessant Attacks on Ukpute and Other Igede Communities by Bonta (Tiv) Militias,” which they handed to the government on August 12, 2024.
The Igede delegation, which included over 14 representatives from various groups and associations, expressed dissatisfaction with how the government has handled the crisis, arguing that the situation of the Ukpute people has not been adequately addressed.
The delegation refused a transport fare offered by the government and declined to hold a joint meeting with Bonta representatives. Comrade Egbodo praised the governor’s efforts to combat external attacks and previous attempts to define the boundary but urged him to intensify his efforts to restore peace immediately.
He warned that his group would proceed with their planned protest and press conference to draw global attention to the plight of the Ukpute people, seeking a solution to their ongoing struggles.
