The Benue State House of Assembly has commended the state governor, Hyacinth Alia, for his efforts in addressing security challenges in the Katsina-Ala Local Government Area of the state.

The commendation followed a motion of urgent public importance condemning killings of security personnel on Friday in Katsina-Ala, as moved by Jonathan Agbidye (APC/Katsina-Ala East) during plenary on Monday in Makurdi.

Mr Agbidye commended the governor for ensuring the deployment of joint military operations to the area.

The lawmaker said that the area has continued to experience attacks by invaders, leaving many residents dead, while farmlands and properties worth millions of naira have been destroyed by the assailants.

He stated that the situation became scarier as the invaders occupied parts of the local government, particularly in the Mbatyula/Mberev council ward, where they conveniently launched attacks on innocent citizens from their hideouts.

Mr Agbidye said that the militia were formidable, using sophisticated weapons to ambush and kill security personnel, while others were abducted during a joint military clearance operation around Agu Centre.

The assemblyman expressed worry that another attack was being launched barely a month after the invaders attacked Saint Paul’s Parish, Aye-Twar, within the same community and destroyed several facilities.

The facilities, he said, included the church, parish secretariat, father’s residence, vehicles and pastoral resources, thereby making residents flee the area.

He decried the killings, stating that if nothing was done urgently to stop it, the situation may escalate to more communities in the area and the entire Sankera and even beyond.

“If armed security personnel are gruesomely murdered in such a manner, what then is the fate of our defenceless citizens?” Mr Agbidye stated.

The motion was seconded by Terna Shimawua (APC/Kyan), stating that the killings in the area had continued unabated for the past nine years.

Mr Shimawua said that Mr Alia was trying his best to curb the menace and urged him to try harder.

He appealed to President Bola Tinubu to support the state in tackling the security challenges.

Ruling, the speaker, who presided over the sitting, Alfred Emberga, said the assembly strongly condemned the killing of the security personnel in the area.

Mr Emberga said the house commiserated with the security agencies that lost their personnel during the dastardly act as well as the families of the deceased personnel.

He called on the state government to complete the construction of the road from Gbishe to Mbakyer through Agu Centre to enhance smooth human and vehicular movement for the people and security personnel.

 (NAN