The governor of Benue State, Rev Fr Hyacinth Alia, has called on the people of Benue to remain resilient and united in the fight against insecurity in the state.
Governor Alia made this call on Saturday, December 28, 2024, while speaking at this year’s Prayer Pilgrimage for Peace held at the Cathedral Church of St John the Baptist, Gboko.
The appeal comes a few days after suspected herdsmen launched an unprovoked attack on the Anwase community in Kwande Local Government Area, where about 11 innocent residents were gruesomely murdered on Christmas Day.
Addressing the state’s security challenges, Alia emphasised that achieving peace requires a collective commitment to bridge divides, heal wounds, and build a society where every citizen can thrive.
“We have a problem on our hands, and this problem did not start from somewhere else. It started from within ourselves before external forces began leveraging it to destroy us,” the governor stated.
He added that lasting peace in the state depends on citizens setting aside their differences and taking a deliberate stand against insecurity, stressing that while he serves as the leader, all the people collectively constitute the government.
Alia reiterated his administration’s commitment to fostering peace in the state, urging residents to take intentional steps toward achieving it.
“For us to get peace, we have to be deliberate; we have to be direct. God has given us peace, and we must also give peace,” he said.
The governor expressed gratitude to those working tirelessly to restore peace in their communities, particularly acknowledging the significant efforts of the Bishop of the Catholic Diocese of Katsina-Ala, Most Rev Isaac Dugu, for the return of peace in Sankera.
He also called for the continuation of the Peace Mass to include other tribes in the state that are equally affected by insecurity.