Our lives are in danger – Benue traditional rulers

Traditional rulers under the umbrella of Benue State Council of Chiefs (BSCC) Wednesday alleged that their lives are under threat and called on the state government to provide them with adequate security.

The traditional rulers at a meeting convened by the state government in Makurdi, and presided over by Special Adviser to the governor on Bureau of Local Government and Chieftaincy Affairs (BLGCA), Titus Zam, urged the government to ensure the security of their lives and property.

In the meeting attended by the Tor Tiv, Alfred Akawe Torkula and Och’ Idoma, Elias Obekpa; chairman and vice chairman of BSCC respectively, the forum appealed to government to restore police orderlies that were hitherto attached to them.

Speaking on behalf of the forum, which had among them second class chiefs from all the 23 local government areas of the state, the Ter Ushongo, Ambrose Iortyer and paramount ruler of Apa Local Government Area, Chief John Antenu, said most of the chiefs were being threatened by their subjects.

Iortyer recalled a recent incident in his domain when one of his chiefs was shot and those suspected to be responsible for the attack were arrested and later released on bail

He said after the release of the suspects, they went about bragging that they were untouchable.

Daily Trust learnt that the Force Headquarters of the Nigeria Police directed recently that police orderlies attached to unauthorised persons be withdrawn, but it is not clear whether the traditional rulers were affected by the order.

Meanwhile, the Special Adviser told the traditional fathers that the meeting was held to revive the forum which last met 16 years ago, adding “there are very critical areas of service to both the government and our people. One therefore wonders why a forum such as this would be allowed to go into extinction.”