Members of the Benue State House of Assembly have vehemently condemned an alleged assassination attempt on the Speaker, Aondoona Dajoh.
The condemnation came during a plenary session on Wednesday, following the assembly’s resumption from recess.
The motion to denounce the dastardly act was raised by Elias Audu, representing Gwer East State Constituency, and received unanimous support from the members. They called for a thorough investigation by relevant authorities into the incident and urged for swift action to bring the perpetrators to justice.
Furthermore, the assembly recommended the immediate suspension and replacement of the suspected assassin, who they allege to be the Caretaker Committee Chairman of Gboko Local Government Area.
During the session presided over by Speaker Dajoh, concerns were raised about the influx of herdsmen and their cattle into the state. The assembly summoned the security adviser to Governor Hyacinth Alia, Commandant Livestock Guards, and the Community Volunteer Guards to explain the latest developments next Tuesday.
The lawmakers expressed dismay over the continued influx despite the existence of the state’s open grazing prohibition law and appealed to Governor Alia to take decisive action.
In addition to condemning the assassination attempt, the assembly addressed other pressing issues, including the delay in releasing official cars to lawmakers and the construction of the Awajir-Oju road. They called on the governor to expedite the release of official vehicles and to award contracts for road construction to enhance connectivity within rural communities.
In his remarks, Speaker Dajoh charged all standing committees to intensify oversight activities, particularly on the 2024 budget, to ensure its speedy and comprehensive implementation by relevant government agencies.
