By Sam Tyav, Makurdi
Benue State Governor, Hyacinth Iormem Alia, has appealed to the people of Kwande Local Government Area (LGA), particularly the women who have taken to the streets to register their grievances about the security situation in the LGA, to remain calm as his government works unrelentingly to bring peace to the area.
A statement by Chief Press Secretary (CPS) to the governor, Tersoo Kula, said the governor expressed worry over the incessant attacks on Kwande communities by armed herders and wondered why Kwande and Ukum have received the attention of these attackers now that relative peace is recorded in other areas of the state.
According to the statement, he assured Kwande and Ukum people of his swift and improved feedback to their situation and described as remorseless barbarism the activities of the assailants and their collaborators which, he said, will become history soon.
The governor lamented that “I share your pains, and I assure you that we will step up our response and prompt, too. Read my lips. The remorseless barbarity of these assailants and their sponsors will soon be a thing of the past.”
He re-emphasized his love for Kwande, Ukum and the entire state, adding that his government has never abandoned them, and would never do so just as he promised to ensure that both communities and the entire State are free from armed herdsmen invasion.
Governor Alia sympathized with the victims of the recent attacks on Kwande and further called on security agencies to give the state their best by ensuring that the enemies of the people are caught and accordingly dealt with.
Alia warned those who have been using his name to stir controversy in Kwande and other areas of the state to be wary of the potential consequences of their actions and insisted that he is the governor for all, stressing that he would continue to work for the good of all people, particularly the masses.
Meanwhile, Gov. Alia has called on all stakeholders to ensure the girl-child is educated, maintaining that it is the most powerful weapon against oppression and relegation.
The governor stated this on Saturday, March 8, on the occasion of this year’s International Women’s Day (IWD).
Another statement by Kula, which described women as the cradle of life and society, said the contributions of women were vital, stating that “without the women, communities would weaken, the economy would suffer and families would forever be searching for a direction.”
According to the statement, Gov. Alia, who stressed the key roles played by Benue women in the areas of farming, trade, lawmaking, teaching, policymaking, as physicians and nurses, among others, called on the male folks never to look down on the women.
The governor emphasised that “here in Benue, our women are not just mothers in the genuine sense of the world, they are farmers, traders, lawmakers, teachers, specialists, and policymakers. Without their contributions, our economy would stall, our communities would weaken, and our families would forever be searching for a direction.”
Alia who described this year’s theme of the celebration which is ‘Advance Action’, as timely, urged all stakeholders to speed up actions aimed at achieving gender equality, addressing the slow pace of progress among women, thereby empowering them and the girl-child.
In addition to their invaluable role, the governor noted that many women still struggle in the regressive waters of inequality even as some were denied education, forced into early marriage, and overly many still bear the weight of harmful cultural practices.
He insisted that “we must therefore speed up action to change this narrative.”
While describing his administration as one that is favourable to women, considering the number of female appointees who are not just participants but decision-makers in governance, the governor also said that priority has been handed out to empowerment programmes for women in the state’s 2025 budget, revealing that grants and soft loans would be offered to women through their cooperative groups, to kick-start trade, agriculture, petty businesses and several other ventures capable of improving their per person income and self-reliance.
Alia called on all to raise their voices for the women who could not speak and to help push aside barriers that hold women down, emphasizing the need to invest in the education, empowerment and uplifting of women.
He insisted that every child, regardless of gender or background, should have access to quality education, stressing that “this is not just a moral duty; it is an investment in a brighter and more prosperous future.”
