Benue deputy governor-elect Sam Ode meets Och’Idoma over herdsmen killings

The Benue State deputy governor-elect, Dr Sam Ode on Monday met with the Och’Idoma, the paramount ruler of the Idoma Kingdom, His Royal Majesty, Agaba-Idu Elaigwu Obagaji John, over the incessant killings of citizens by suspected Fulani herdsmen.

The meeting which took place at the Ochi’Idoma palace in Otukpo came a few days after herdsmen militia killed over 45 persons in Apa and Umogidi in Entekpa-Adoka, communities in Otukpo Local Government Area of the state.

Speaking during the visit, Dr Ode condemned the recurrent spate of killings in several parts of the state and reassured Benue citizens that the incoming administration of Rev Fr Hyacinth Alia would accord top priority to the protection of lives and properties in the state.

The deputy governor-elect also affirmed that the administration of Rev Fr Alia would be fully committed to engendering peace, unity and socio-economic stability in the state, in a bid to guarantee the prosperity of its teeming citizens.

While expressing his sympathy to all the victims of the recent gruesome killings across the state, Dr Ode urged security operatives to leave no stone unturned in their quest to identify and prosecute the perpetrators.

He added that the incoming administration of Father Alia would need the full support of the Benue State Traditional Council in order to resolve some of the issues that usually degenerate into violent attacks and conflicts in the state