The Benue State Government has suspended two top aides to Governor Hyacinth Alia for joining a public protest against the ongoing spate of violence and killings in the state.
Hon. Atu Terver Joseph, the Principal Special Assistant to the Governor on Youth and Media Mobilization, announced the suspension of his Chief of Staff, Mr. John Ukeyima, and Chief Press Secretary, Mr. Lubem Terkula, following their participation in the recent “End Benue Genocide” protest.
The protest, held on Sunday, June 15, saw hundreds of irate youths flood the streets of Makurdi and surrounding areas to express their outrage over the escalating violence in the state. The latest attacks, which occurred between Friday, June 13, and Saturday, June 14, left at least 200 people dead after suspected armed herdsmen raided Yelwata community in Guma Local Government Area.
The demonstrators called on both the state and federal governments to take decisive action to end what they described as a “genocidal onslaught” against Benue communities.
However, in a strongly-worded suspension letter dated Sunday night, Hon. Terver accused Ukeyima and Terkula of acting contrary to the government’s communication strategy and undermining its public stance by participating in the protest. He stated that their actions could be interpreted as a breach of loyalty and insubordination, especially given their sensitive positions within the governor’s media and administrative teams.
“Their involvement in the protest was not only unauthorized but also capable of misleading the public into believing that they were representing the government’s official position,” Terver wrote.
While the state government has acknowledged the tragedy and ongoing security challenges, critics have accused the administration of failing to respond adequately to the repeated attacks. The suspension of the two aides has sparked mixed reactions, with some describing it as an attempt to suppress internal dissent and silence voices within the government who sympathize with the victims.
Human rights advocates and civil society groups have also condemned the move, calling it “highly insensitive” at a time when the focus should be on justice for victims and lasting security reforms.
As of the time of this report, the suspended officials have not issued any public statements regarding the disciplinary action taken against them.
