VIDEO: WHY BENUE COMMISSIONER IS STILL KEPT BY KIDNAPPERS

…Militia demands refund of N15m they gave Gov Alia 

By Mson Fachir 

Revelations have emerged as to why the Benue State Commissioner for Information, Culture and Tourism, Mr. Matthew Abo who was kidnapped by gunmen in his Ukum home on Sunday, September 24th, 2023 is yet to regain freedom.  

Our sources in Sankera area of the state told us that the kidnappers are members of the militia which governor Hyacinth Alia had an agreement with before the 2023 elections. Recall that governor Alia himself confirmed in on national television in July this year that he previously met with the militia and struck a deal that they would not go on attack until they hear from him. 

Now, the militia members are claiming that they supported governor Alia with N15 million cash during the campaigns and he promised that if he won, he would reward them with revenue collection contracts. According to the militia, governor Alia has failed to fulfill his promise to them so he should refund their money or they will continue to attack and kidnap more people. 

Our sources said what has angered the militia the most is that instead of speaking to them on his promises, governor Alia went to the media and described their action “as barbaric, condemnable and unacceptable”. They vowed not to release the kidnapped commissioner until they hear from the governor regarding his promises. 

Insecurity in Benue State has worsened since governor Alia came to power. Observers are shocked that four months into his governorship, Alia is yet to appoint a Special Adviser on Security. 

The other day, hundreds of internally displaced persons in one of the camps located at Abagena blocked the Makurdi-Lafia road protesting over the failure of the Alia government to fulfill its promise to return them to their ancestral homes. The protesters stayed in the middle of the road for hours insisting that governor Alia must come to address them