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Group Alleges Plot by Benue Deputy Speaker to Trigger Fresh Crisis in Ado
A civil society group, Benue Intelligence Watch, on Tuesday raised alarm over what it described as an alleged plot by the Deputy Speaker of the Benue State House of Assembly, Rt. Hon. Lami Danladi Ogenyi, to instigate another round of killings and insecurity in Ado Local Government Area under the guise of a public protest.
Addressing journalists during a press conference, the group said it was compelled to speak out in order to alert security agencies and the public to developments it claimed could threaten the fragile peace currently enjoyed in the local government.
The statement was jointly signed by Ambassador Jude Tsegha, Esq., National President of Benue Intelligence Watch; Chief Donald Agada, National Secretary; and Dr. (Mrs.) Hellen Akpareshi, Public Relations Officer.
According to the group, the activities of the deputy speaker, if not checked, could lead to renewed violence in Ado, an area that has experienced repeated security challenges in recent years.
Benue Intelligence Watch alleged that sometime last year, Mrs. Danladi raised what it described as a false allegation against the Executive Chairman of Ado Local Government, Engineer Oche Sunday Oche, accusing him of involvement in kidnapping and other security threats in the area.
The group claimed that the deputy speaker allegedly used one of her associates, identified as Nkechi Okafor, to send a petition to the former Inspector-General of Police, Kayode Egbetokun, accusing the council chairman of operating an illegal detention facility in the Obioye area of the local government.
In the petition, according to the group, the chairman was accused of using the purported detention cell to hold kidnapped victims and torture them until ransoms were allegedly paid through his agents.
The group further stated that the then Inspector-General of Police ordered the arrest of some community elders who were mentioned in the petition alongside the council chairman.
However, it said the elders were later granted bail after preliminary investigations reportedly showed that the allegations could not be substantiated.
The group added that a certified police report later issued through the Area Commander of the Otukpo Area Command cleared Engineer Oche Sunday Oche of any wrongdoing and absolved him of all allegations raised against him.
Benue Intelligence Watch claimed that its own investigation revealed that the deputy speaker had allegedly been using the influence of her husband, whom it described as a controversial figure previously arrested for several offences, to intimidate people in Ado Local Government.
The group alleged that the deputy speaker had vowed to make the local government ungovernable for the current council chairman following political disagreements.
It therefore called on relevant security agencies to investigate the alleged involvement of the deputy speaker in past incidents of killings and kidnappings in the area.
According to the group, there were instances where she was allegedly seen planning attacks with hoodlums and political thugs targeting peaceful communities within the local government.
The group further alleged that the motive behind such actions was to escalate insecurity in Benue State in order to push for the declaration of a state of emergency.
On financial matters, Benue Intelligence Watch claimed that Mrs. Danladi had allegedly received over N34 million from the revenue of the local government through two caretaker chairmen she had nominated before the election of Engineer Oche as chairman.
It also cited a statement by a resident of Agila who allegedly accused the deputy speaker of withholding N5 million donated by a philanthropist for the renovation of Agila Grammar School.
According to the group, the donation was paid into the deputy speaker’s account but had not been remitted to the school despite several efforts by the school principal to retrieve the funds.
The group further alleged that the deputy speaker had previously used her influence to secure the release of suspected criminals from the Lafia Police Area Command.
Benue Intelligence Watch also claimed that while two warring clans in Ado Local Government had previously embraced peace through the intervention of the council chairman, the deputy speaker allegedly opposed the reconciliation because she was benefiting from the conflict.
The group further alleged that she had been collecting money from the communities and using the funds to procure weapons for rival groups to sustain the crisis.
It also claimed that the deputy speaker recently held a meeting with members of the Igbo community with the aim of mobilising about 200 youths to stage a protest against the administration of the local government chairman.
According to the group, the planned protest is linked to the deputy speaker’s alleged dissatisfaction with the outcome of the recent APC ward and local government congresses which produced executives believed to be loyal to the council chairman.
The group urged the Inspector-General of Police to disregard any fresh petitions that might be submitted by the deputy speaker against the council chairman, insisting that previous investigations had already cleared him.
It also called on security agencies to invite the deputy speaker and prevent the planned protest, warning that such an action could trigger violence and lead to the destruction of lives and property.
The group further appealed to the leadership of the All Progressives Congress in Benue State to investigate the deputy speaker over alleged anti-party activities and apply appropriate sanctions if the claims are proven.
Benue Intelligence Watch also urged the Benue State Governor, Rev. Fr. Hyacinth Alia, to remain vigilant and closely monitor the political situation in Ado Local Government and the activities of the deputy speaker.
The group concluded the press conference by expressing hope that security agencies and political authorities would act swiftly to prevent any breakdown of law and order in the area.
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