Governor Hyacinth Alia of Benue State has strongly condemned the brutal killing of two Kano indigenes in the Agan area of Makurdi, describing the incident as “barbaric, senseless, and a stain on the values Benue people hold dear.”
In a statement issued by his Chief Press Secretary, Tersoo Kula, Governor Alia confirmed that five suspects have already been apprehended by the Benue State Police Command, acting on his immediate directive to security agencies to ensure the swift arrest and prosecution of those responsible.
“Benue people are known for their hospitality and peaceful disposition,” Alia said. “We will not allow criminal elements to destroy our reputation or disrupt the peace we have worked so hard to maintain. The perpetrators of this heinous crime must be brought to justice—swiftly and decisively.”
The victims—identified as citizens of Kano State—were reportedly passing through Benue when they were attacked and killed by yet-unidentified assailants in the Agan settlement of Makurdi.
The Governor extended his condolences to Governor Abba Kabir Yusuf of Kano State, expressing regret over the loss of innocent lives and reassuring that “justice will be served, and justice will be seen to be done.”
In a display of inter-state cooperation and unity, both governors have been in close communication following the tragedy. Governor Alia also urged residents to remain calm and avoid retaliatory or inflammatory actions, promising that his administration remains committed to upholding law, order, and justice for all Nigerians, regardless of origin.
In a separate but equally impassioned statement, Governor Abba Kabir Yusuf of Kano State decried the attack as “an affront to national unity and a tragic reminder of the urgent need for stronger security protections for all Nigerians.”
“It is with a heavy heart and deep sorrow that we mourn the loss of two promising young men—peace-loving citizens whose only ‘crime’ was exercising their constitutional right to travel and live freely within their country,” Yusuf said.
Governor Yusuf called for calm, unity, and swift justice, reassuring the people of Kano that his government is working closely with security agencies and the Benue State Government to ensure the culprits are prosecuted to the fullest extent of the law.
