Nigerian Concord Newspaper
Transparency International has challenged the Secretary to the Government of the Federation, Senator George Akume over his direct involvement in the fresh killings in Benue State.
Speaking in a press statement this evening, the Country Director of Transparency International, Mr. Abudulahi Kassim said that the killings which took the lives and properties of over three hundred people in Guma and other parts of Benue State over the weekend till this morning were politically motivated by political gladiators whom Governor Hyacinth Alia had recently accused of funding insecurity in Benue state.
According to Transparency International, there is an Intel which the group obtained from a reliable security sources that many other local governments in Benue South and the Sankera Axis of the State will be seriously attacked this week.
“The people behind the planned attacks have organized multiple protests which will be carried out by some notable activists in Nigeria and they have been paid a sum of N250 million. During the protests which will start towards the end of next week, the protesters had been given a script which is to call for a State of Emergency in the state. They will use the planned attacks on Benue communities which will take place this week as a reason to call for the Emergency Rule” Transparency International said in the statement.
The group however condemned an ongoing protest which is being led by a Social Media influencer popularly known as Very Dark Man in Makurdi.
According to Transparency International, Very Dark Man was paid a sum of N150 million by Senator George Akume through his Media Adviser, Mr. Terrence Kuanum who organized the protest under the cover of Benue Youths organization.
Apart from the protest which the Very Dark Man was paid a sum of N150 million to organize today, Transparency International through its Country Director, Mr. Abdullahi Kassim also accused members of the National Assembly Caucus from Benue State led by Senator Titus Zam of paying a whooping N50 million to another controversial Social Media influencer, Mr. Haakyav Tombu Peter to organize another protest at Millennium Park in Abuja.
The money was handed over to Mr. Mark Hanmation, the group said.
Transparency International asked the SGF to explain the presence of his right hand man who is also a National Assembly Commissioner, Mr. Mark Hanmation and others at the Millennium Park protest.
The group however called on President Bola Tinubu to quickly call the SGF to order so that he won’t ruin his chance of winning Benue State in 2027.
The group urged Mr. President to quickly act on the accusation of Governor Hyacinth Alia that it’s politicians in Abuja that are sponsoring killings in the state because of political reasons.
Mr. Kassim said: “The president should now know that there is no one that will remain in Benue to vote for him in 2027 if he doesn’t quickly call for a probe into the governor’s allegation on Benue insecurity.
“Also, the president should make an inquiry on why Senator George Akume is fighting the government of APC in Benue state when it’s actually the same party that gave him the position he is occupying today”
The group said that instead of the Secretary to the Government of the Federation to raise his voice against the killings of his people, he is busy paying pressure groups, activists and Social Media influencers to organize protests just to add weight to his pressure on President Bola Tinubu to declare a State of Emergency in Benue state.