By Seyi Odewale
The Benue State government has banned any form of political gathering and meeting in the state till further notice.
A statement by the Chief of Staff to Governor Hyacinth Alia addressed to the Commissioner of Police in the state, dated February 27, asked the commissioner to enforce the ban immediately.
According to the statement, the reason for the ban followed an intelligence gathered that there has been an unprecedented influx of armed herdsmen into the state lately, adding that the ban was necessary to diffuse the volatile insecurity atmosphere in the state.
Titled: Notification of ban of all political meetings/gathering, the statement read in part: “I write to inform you that His Excellency, Rev. Fr. Hyacinth Alia has banned all political gatherings in any form, be it inter or intra-party or groups in Benue State till further notice.”
It went on, “This has become necessary following intelligence on the volatility of the security atmosphere in the state.
“It is certainly not new to you how the security atmosphere in the state is charged following the unprecedented influx of armed herdsmen in the state. You are by this notification invited to enforce this directive.”
