Alia orders release of abducted Benue council chairman, three others

Benue State Governor, Rev Fr Hyacinth Alia, has ordered the immediate release of the kidnapped Caretaker Chairman of Ukum LGA, Hon Hanganoon Gideon and three others who were abducted by-yet-to-be identified gunmen on Saturday.

Hon Gideon was kidnapped along with three others on his way to the burial of the late Ter Katsina-Ala on Saturday.

Gov Alia gave the directive during a funeral oration of Ter Katsina-Ala, Chief Benjamin Fezanga Wombo at the Akume Atongo stadium, Katsina-Ala.

He decried the lingering spate of killings and kidnappings in the area by bandits which he said cannot be condoned any longer.

Gov Alia also called on all sons of Sankera political bloc to convene a meeting to ensure lasting peace returned to the area.

He said both serving and former Senators, House of Representatives Members as well as other prominent sons in Sankera convene the meeting immediately to proffer lasting solutions to the insecurity situation in the area.

Gov Alia said they should forward the resolution of the meeting to him for immediate implementation.

He said his administration was ready to engage youths in the area to be useful in the society, if they refrain from criminal activities.

Gov Alia also urged the traditional leaders in Sankera axis of the state to do the same, pointing out that his administration was determined to ensure that peace returns not only to district but to the entire state.

He condoled the family of Chief Wombo over the demise of their father and urged them to be consoled in the fact that he lived a fulfilled life.

Earlier, the Secretary to the Government of the Federation, SGF, Sen George Akume called for collective responsibility to move the state forward.