A recent incident unfolded as a group of youths reportedly targeted the convoy of Benue State Governor, Rev Fr Hyacinth Alia, within Ugondu community in Makurdi LGA on Wednesday.
The protest stemmed from objections over plans to bury Engr. Michael Vaatia, the proprietor of Vaatia College, Makurdi, within the school’s premises situated in Ugondu community. Expressing their dissent, youths from the community hurled stones at the governor’s convoy, resulting in the arrest of six individuals by the police for their involvement in the incident.
Governor Alia had visited Vaatia College to assess preparations for the burial of the deceased proprietor, Engr. Vaatia, scheduled to take place on Thursday.
Amidst the governor’s address to community leaders at the school, enraged youths from Ugondu community allegedly stormed the premises, vandalizing the grave. They disrupted proceedings, clashed with security, and fired gunshots, prompting intervention by the police’s Operation Zenda unit, leading to the arrest of several involved individuals.
ALSO SEE: Oyo Govt. Applauds Ogbomoso Chef Attempting Guinness World Record
During discussions with Ugondu community leaders, Governor Alia emphasized the need to avoid actions that could sow discord and disunity in the state. He reminded them of his efforts in promoting inclusivity across tribes, urging leaders to disassociate from any disruptive activities.
Governor Alia, while reassuring students’ safety during and after the burial, instructed the Assistant Commissioner of Police to ensure peace during the wake-keep and burial ceremonies scheduled for Thursday.
Efforts were underway to reconstruct the damaged grave by the irate Ugondu youths ahead of the deceased proprietor’s interment on Thursday
Comments are closed.