Some young people in the Ugondu village of Makurdi LGA of the state are said to have attacked the convoy carrying the governor of Benue State, Hyacinth Alia, on Wednesday.
The governor’s convoy was stoned by young people from the Ugondu community in Makurdi LGA, Benue, reportedly in protest over plans to bury Michael Vaatia, the owner of Vaatia College, Makurdi, inside the community’s school grounds.
After hurling things at the governor’s motorcade, six Ugondu teenagers who were protesting were taken into custody by the police.
Gov. Alia had come to Vaatia College to see how well the business was ready for the departed owner’s funeral.
The College’s owner, Vaatia, passed away a few days ago, and on Thursday, she will be buried on the campus.
It is said that the cemetery was demolished by enraged adolescents from the host community of Ugondu who broke into the school.
When the governor addressed community leaders in the school, a huge group of them could be observed shouting war songs.
The Daily Post claims that while some of the governor’s entourage was stuck outside, the aforementioned youngsters interrupted the proceedings when security guards tried to bar them from entering the school.
According to sources who spoke with the platform, the young people were scared by gunshots fired into the air, but they were overcome when the police special unit known as Operation Zenda arrived, leading to the arrest of several of them.
Gov. Alia warned against actions that could cause disruption and division in the state while speaking to Ugondu community leaders, including Ter Makurdi, retired Permanent Secretary Akange Audu, former Senator Fred Orti, and other traditional rulers.
He said, “I have come to correct some misgivings that happened in the rulership of your son as governor.
“I sent both the Tiv, Idoma, and other tribes overseas for training without discrimination.
“I want to believe you, the traditional and community leaders, denying involvement in what has happened.
“Surely, some youths arrested will make confessions and if they mention your name, be ready to go and answer.”
He went on to say that a week or so ago, an Igbo guy and another deceased person were buried in Makurdi town without any opposition from any youth organization, and he appealed for peace.
When Gov. Alia spoke to students on campus later, he gave them assurances about their safety both during and after the burial.
He gave the Assistant Commissioner of Police in charge of Operations instructions to make sure there is harmony at Thursday’s wake and burial.
Prior to the deceased proprietor’s burial on Thursday, the furious Ugondu youths were in the process of reconstructing the damaged cemetery at the time of this story.
