Politics

Tension in Benue as Local Government Chairman Stops Thanksgiving Service for Akume

Published by Tope Fakinlede on July 2nd, 2024.

Tension in Benue as Local Government Chairman Stops Thanksgiving Service for Akume

A wave of anxiety has swept through Benue State following the abrupt suspension of a thanksgiving church service meant to honor the Secretary to the Government of the Federation (SGF). The service, organized by the Caretaker Chairman of Guma Local Government Area, Unongu Simon, was stopped, creating unrest among the residents.

The thanksgiving service, originally set for Sunday, was to be accompanied by a grand reception for the SGF. However, in a statewide radio broadcast, Unongu directed the NKST Church in Daudu to cancel the event, citing security concerns as the reason for the halt. He also mandated that anyone planning to organize public events in the area must first obtain approval from his office.

Despite the directive, the event organizers have expressed their determination to proceed with the thanksgiving service as initially planned. Lazarus Asema, a member of the Central Planning Committee, affirmed that the venue and schedule—NKST Church Daudu—remain unchanged.

The town of Daudu, located near Makurdi, the capital of Benue State, hosts a camp for Internally Displaced Persons (IDPs), a result of frequent herdsmen attacks on farming communities in the region.