…invites nine LG chairmen over killings, kidnapping
The Benue State House of Assembly has summoned Isaac Tiza Imojime, the State Commissioner for Works, Housing and Urban Development, Director General, Benue State Public Procurement Commission, Director General Bereau for Special Projects and the Contractor handling Wurukum-Air Force Base road dualilsation to appear before the House to justify why the project will cost N68.329 billion.
BusinessDay reports that the Commissioner for Finance has also directed by the Benue State House of Assembly not to release funds to the Contractor handling the project, pending the conclusion of the Investigation.
This followed a Motion of Urgent Public Importance moved by Anthony Agom, a member representing Okpokwu Benue State Constituency, informing the House that the dualilsation of the road had attracted Public criticisms due to the amount of money involved.
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He said the huge amount of money approved for the road needed to be investigated, urging the House to summon the Commissioner and those involved in the road project to appear unfailingly.
Seconding the Motion, Alfred Emberga, member representing Makurdi North State Constituency, said the amount approved for the road was too much, appealing to the House to allow those involved in the project to appear before the House and throw shed light on why a small portion of such road would cost Benue State Government such a huge amount.
The House also summoned the Special adviser to the Governor on Bureau for Local Government, Security and Chieftaincy Affairs, Director General, Homeland Security and the Chairmen of Otukpo, Ado, Agatu, Apa, Kwande, Ukum Logo, Ohimini, Gwer West and Katsina- Ala to appear before the House on Friday to explain the actions they had taken to stop incessant killings and kidnapping in Otukpo and other Local Governments.
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Mover of the Motion, Micheal Audu, informed the House that there had been reported cases of killings and kidnapping by suspected Fulani herdsmen in Opa-Adoka and Asa, Otukpo towns, all in Otukpo Local Government on a daily basis, leading to the killing of many people while some were kidnapped.
He said the Local Government Chairmen in the State and the security agencies might have been overwhelmed or not living up to their responsibilities, urging the House to summon the Director General of Homeland Security, and other parties involved to appear and give concrete explanations over the ugly development.
