Insecurity: Benue State Govt Imposes 8pm to 6am Daily Curfew

The Benue State government has imposed a dusk to dawn curfew in some local government areas of the state as part of efforts to tackle rising cases of insecurity.

The State Deputy Governor, Engineer Benson Abounu who disclosed this on Wednesday at the end of the State Security Council meeting said the affected local governments are Ukum and Katsina-Ala.

He added while briefing newsmen at the end of the security meeting that the curfew is effective immediately.

The council also retained the existing ban on the use of motorcycles of all kinds in the area known as Sankera political axis pending further review of the security situation in the area.

The ban however made provision for patients and pregnant women and other peculiar cases where the use of motorcycles may be necessary due to the absence of vehicles.

“The movement of patients and pregnant women among other very necessary cases for medical attention using motorcycles where there is no vehicular presence would be allowed after thorough investigation,” the Deputy Governor noted.

He said the motorcycle ban which was imposed after some violent clashes in Ukum and Katsina-Ala which resulted in the death of many residents has proven to be effective in curbing the violence.

Abounu added that security operatives have been instructed to stop the act of burning seized motorcycles after it was brought to the attention of the government but warned that surveillance will be sustained in affected places.

Meanwhile, the Benue State Command of the Nigeria Police has confirmed the death of Chidimma Omah, a man allegedly set ablaze by his 18-year-old lover.

According to the Police, Omah’s house, located on Zaki Biam Street in Makurdi, the state capital was set on fire by his 18-year-old girlfriend, Alex Esther around 2am on Monday.

The man who was severely burnt in the fire incident was rushed to the clinic but eventually died as a result of extreme burns sustained in the attack.

On Tuesday, the spokesperson for the Benue state police command, DSP Catherine Anene while giving updates on the incident, confirmed that Omah died around 10pm on Monday at the Federal Medical Centre, Makurdi.

Neighbours suggest Omah must have been drugged by Esther before spraying his one-room residence with fuel and setting it ablaze while he was asleep.

The case is currently under investigation after it was transferred to the state police headquarters.