By EMMANUEL ANTSWEN

The Benue State Government on Friday said it has abolished cultism, extortion, marching ground levy collection and other violent activities in the State.

The State Security Adviser to the Governor on Security and Internal Affairs, Chief Joseph Har, stated this during a one-day “Benue Anti-Cultism Awareness Campaign” sensitization walk in Makurdi.

Har said that the State Government was not going to accommodate cultism, extortion, marching ground levy collection and violent activities in the State.

He said Gov. Hyacinth Alia has directed that all those currently involved in such activities should desist forthwith within the time frame or period of grace offered to them to change their ways.

He said after the expiration of this period, security agencies would go after all those still perpetrating such behaviours.

“Gov. Alia’s Government is Government of peace, that is why you see us dressing in white as a sign of peace. This is not a sign of weakness. Today we are preaching the message of carrot approach but tomorrow it will be the stick approach.

“Today marks the end of cultism, extortion, marching ground levy collection and violent activities in Benue. If you have strength join us to defend the State,” he said.

At the Ter Makurdi’s Palace, the Security Adviser, who sought the royal blessings of the traditional rulers for the assignment, also urged them to sensitize their subjects on the exercise.

He said the Government was going to ensure that the State was peaceful for businesses to strive, adding that those extorting money from unsuspecting members of the public must stop doing so.

In his response, Ter Makurdi, HRH Chief Vincent Ahule, commended the Government for the initiative and said they would support the project to succeed.

Ahule, who was represented by HRH Chief Pius Tyo, District Head of Iukyondu I-Sha, said they have overtime condemned the activities of cultists, marching ground levy collectors and perpetrators of violent activities in the locality.

He regretted that such activities were bringing disgrace them and the State at large.

“We are happy with your initiative and we wholeheartedly welcome it. The Traditional rulers in Makurdi are not aware of marching ground levy collectors,” saying “those in this business are disgracing us and should stop.

“We are solidly behind you. We need peace in Makurdi so that other places in the State can also enjoy peace. Makurdi was not like this before, and we are not happy with what is happening now.

“Cult-related activities are on the rise, and this is against our tradition and belief.

“We believe that with this project, Makurdi will enjoy peace again,”! he said.

Also, HRH Chief Samuel Iortim, District Head, Akpa-Wadata, disclosed that overnight some persons living within his domain were selling out individual rooms within their compounds.

Iortim said the new occupants of such rooms are usually over 10 in a single room, adding that their identities were also not known.

Also, the State Youth Leader of the All Progressives Congress (APC), Comrade Tertindi Adom, appealed to the youths to shun acts of violence, cultism and extortion amongst other vices and embrace Government’s social support programmes.

Adom explained that the Renewed Hope Agenda of President Bola Tinubu had so much in stock for the youths and urged them to take advantage of such opportunities.

He urged them to also embrace Gov. Alia’s youth support programme such as the ongoing training of thousands of youth on ICT, among others.

The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that the Security Adviser took the sensitization campaign to all the markets within the State Capital and the Ter Makurdi’s Palace. (NAN)

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