Governor Hyacinth Alia has appealed to the kidnappers of the Caretaker Chairman, Ukum Local Government Area (LGA) of the state, Gideon Haanongon, and three others, to release them unconditionally.
Mr Alia made the appeal on Saturday, during a funeral oration for Ter (paramount ruler) Katsina-Ala, Fezanga Wombo, at the Akume Atongo Stadium, Katsina-Ala LGA of the State.
The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that Mr Haanongon, his orderly, driver and personal assistant were kidnapped in the early hours of Saturday, while on their way to attend the funeral ceremony of the late traditional ruler.
The governor called for the immediate release of the kidnapped chairman and those with him.
He said that his administration was ready to engage the youths to be useful in society if they refrained from criminal activities.
He decried the spate of killings and kidnappings in the area by bandits and warned that his administration would not condone such nefarious acts.
Mr Alia called on both serving and former lawmakers, as well as other prominent sons of Sankara, to convene an emergency meeting to proffer lasting solutions to the insecurity in the area.
He assured that their recommendations would be implemented immediately when forwarded to him.
The governor also urged traditional leaders in the area to put heads together to proffer lasting solutions to the challenges bedevilling the area, saying that his administration was determined to ensure that peace returned not only to Logo, Ukum and Katsina-Ala LGAs but to the entire state.
Mr Alia commiserated with the family of the late Mr Wombo over the demise of their father and urged them to be consoled by the fact that he lived a fulfilled life.
Earlier, the Secretary to the Government of the Federation (SGF), George Akume, called for collective responsibility to move the state forward.
Represented by Jack Gyado, Mr Akume called on all Sankara sons to ensure peace returned to the area.
The SGF pledged the federal government’s commitment to ensuring that there was peace in Benue for efficient development.
A former governor of Benue, Gabriel Suswam, also tasked the people of Sankara with peace and unity.
Mr Suswam said it was time for the Sankara community to be sanitised from all forms of criminality for people to exercise their fundamental human rights of free movement from one place to another.
The senator also said the area, known as the food hub of the state, needed peace to ensure its return to agricultural activities, grow the state’s economy and enhance Nigeria’s GDP.
Also, the Bishop of Katsina-Ala Diocese, Most Rev. Isaac Dugu, in his sermon, called on the Benue people to intensify prayers for the state, the governor and Mr Sankara.
In his remarks, a son of the deceased, Solomon Wombo, a lawmaker representing Katsina-Ala, Ukum and Logo Federal Constituency, appealed for peace in the constituency.
NAN reports that Sankara, which comprises Ukum, Logo and Katsina-Ala LGAs, is the constituency of the late Terwase Akwaza, aka Gana, the kidnapping kingpin.
The area is yet to have peace even after his death.
