Nasarawa Govt.  denies allegation of harbouring Benue attackers

By Abel zwanke, Lafia 

The Nasarawa State Government has denied allegations that it is harbouring armed bandits responsible for attacks on communities in neighbouring Benue State.

The denial follows a recent statement by a former member of the House of Representatives from Benue, Mark Gbilah, who during an interview on African Independent Television (AIT), accused Nasarawa of providing refuge to the attackers.

Reacting to the claim on Thursday,  Peter Ahemba, Senior Special Assistant to the Governor on Public Affairs, said the statement was not only false but aimed at inciting public tension and disrupting the cordial relationship between Nasarawa and Benue States.

According to Ahemba, who spoke on behalf of Governor Abdullahi Sule, the allegation is “a malicious attempt to tarnish the image of Nasarawa State and disrupt the inter-state relationship between Nasarawa and Benue.”

“We ordinarily wouldn’t have bothered responding to such unsubstantiated allegations, as they have no iota of truth,” Ahemba said. “However, it has become necessary to clear the air and set the records straight for the sake of unsuspecting members of the public who may be misled by this false narrative.”

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He stressed that Governor Sule has shown consistent commitment to regional peace and security, particularly through collaborative efforts with neighbouring states.

“It is on record that the Nasarawa State Government under the leadership of His Excellency, Abdullahi Sule, has remained consistent in building synergy with neighbouring states, especially Benue, to enhance peace and address common security challenges confronting the region,” Ahemba stated.

He further noted that Governor Sule, as Chairman of the North-Central Governors Forum, recently convened a high-level security meeting with other governors in the region, including Benue State Governor, Rev. Fr. Hyacinth Alia, to discuss the rising insecurity and chart a collective path forward.

“With this demonstrated solidarity for the people of Benue and other neighbouring states, and the concerted efforts by Governor Sule to address these challenges, how could Nasarawa under his leadership be harbouring bandits to attack Benue or any other state?” Ahemba asked.

He urged Hon. Gbilah to act as a responsible former lawmaker and stakeholder in the peace and security of the region rather than spreading divisive narratives.