Governor Hyacinth Alia has ordered all criminals currently operating in Benue State to leave or risk arrest.

This is contained in a press statement signed by media aide Tersoo Kula in Makurdi on Saturday.

“Governor Alia is serious about securing the state and ridding it of criminal elements,” the statement said. 

It stated that no criminal would escape punishment, adding that nobody is above the law as long as the person resides in the state.

On the Kwande attack on cattle traders, he stated categorically that “no Fulani person was among the two traders that were unfortunately killed by criminals as alleged by the Benue PDP.”

He advised the PDP to join him to bring development to the state instead of continuously stoking the embers of hatred and sparking ethnic tensions.

The governor directed security agencies and traditional rulers within the area to ensure that the criminals who attacked and killed two Katsina-Ala LGA-based cattle traders were arrested and prosecuted.

“It has to be clearly stated that what happened at Nyihemba was purely a criminal act, and the perpetrators must be punished to serve as a deterrent to others.

“It is, therefore, mischievous for the PDP to interpret the incident as though it was an assault targeted at cattle traders,” he stated.

The governor said the state cannot be allowed to descend into anarchy.

He vowed that no stone would be left unturned in ensuring that Benue enjoys maximum security. 

(NAN)