The Benue State government has dismissed claims that it authorised the establishment of a Fulani security outfit in the state.
The Deputy Governor, Dr. Sam Ode, made the remarks at a session with journalists in Makurdi, the Benue State capital at the weekend, describing the allegation as baseless, unfounded and untrue.
According to him, such claim is a deliberate plot to discredit the state governor, Revd Hyacinth Alia.
The deputy governor added that it was outright falsehood for anyone to assume that the state government was represented at the said event which it was not aware of in the first place.
Ode explained that the need for the media conference “is as a result of the very mischievous media outing by some elements which we deemed a calculated attempt to discredit the new administration in Benue state led by Rev. Hyacinth Alia.
“Just a few days ago, particularly on Tuesday, my attention was drawn to the headlines which suggested that the government of Benue state indeed authorised the establishment of a security outfit which was termed as a Fulani security outfit.
“I think the intention of the masterminds of that plot was to bring us back to the sad days of the past, regarding the insecurity in the state of Benue when we had gory stories of herdsmen and farmers conflict.
“In this particular instance, it was reported that I, as the Deputy Governor of Benue State commissioned a Fulani security outfit on behalf of the government of Benue state,” ode said.
The deputy governor explained that nothing could be farther from the truth, thereby emphasising the need to clear the air about the allegation.
He said: “I needed to clear the air on this particular subject matter. It is in this regard that I have the authority of the governor to tell the press and the public and categorically state that no Fulani security outfit was launched in Benue State.
“The government of Benue state had at no time in the period under review okayed or authorised the establishment of any such security outfit in the state.
“As the Deputy Governor of Benue State, I did not authorise any group or any individual to represent me at such an event, which was termed the commissioning of a security outfit known as Altashek global security which was said to be a Fulani security outfit.
“So as a government, we are calling on the good people of Benue state and the media to ignore this invidious plot calculated to cause disaffection and scare the citizens of Benue state.”
