By Egbe Attah, Otukpo
The Second-Class Chief for Otukpo Local Government and District Head of Adoka in Benue State, Dr Samuel Onuh, has advised his subjects to shun all forms of criminality saying, crime does not pay.
Dr Onuh who gave the advice recently while interacting with The Voice at his council chamber in Otukpo, expressed dismay that the local government which was previously known for peace and hospitality was recently engulfed by acts of kidnapping, armed robbery, cultism, ritual killings among others.
The royal father observed that there is no way an outsider could come to carryout such heinous crimes in the community, without the cooperation and collaboration of the indigenous people whom he said have been influenced by alien culture. He warned that the gods of the land will not let them go scot-free.
“My subjects should desist from kidnapping, armed robbery, cultism and other sundry crimes. They are not our ways of life and I would specially want to advise the youths to be patient in life and take to farming which is our natural occupation from God. The craze for get rich quick will not do them any good,” he said.
The monarch noted that in most of such crimes, the youths are usually the culprits, adding that there is need for them to avoid the quest for quick riches and embrace farming as there are no enough white-collar jobs to go round them.
Onuh thanked the government and the security agents for their roles in fighting crime in his domain which he said has brought the situation under control even as he asked his chiefs to be wary of visitors who come to their communities, in order not to harbour criminals among their subjects.
On the current hardship in the land, especially hunger, the traditional ruler expressed hope that they will overcome it while calling on this subjects to intensify effort in farming activities in the current season, in order to fight hunger and poverty in the land.
While on farmer-herder crisis, the “Alegwu of Adoka”, decried the impact on food security in the country while commending the recent decision of the Southern Governors’ Forum banning open-grazing, saying, it is the best panacea to the crisis.
He noted that the same move, earlier taken by Governor Samuel Ortom of Benue State amidst opposition has been justified by the governors’ action.
“Governor Ortom has been vindicated. When enacting the Anti-Open Grazing and Ranches Establishment Law, there were opposition to his action, especially from the Fulani herders.
“Thank God that almost everybody has realised that the age we live in can no longer permit open grazing, especially as the population has outstripped the available land,” the chief explained.
In another development, a retired Assistant Superintendent of Police (ASP) whose name could not be ascertained by our correspondent as at the time of filing this report, was recently shot dead by unknown gunmen at Enyi Street Eupi, Otukpo, Benue State.
According to The Voice investigations, the gunmen stormed the deceased’s compound and shot him then ran away, leaving behind a motorcycle and a single double barrel gun which is now in police custody.
Confirming the incident, the Otukpo Divisional Police Officer (DPO), Bawa Yahaya, said investigation into the incident has since begun. He called on members of the public to help the police with useful information that could lead to the arrest of the assailants.
Meanwhile, the remains of the deceased have been deposited in an undisclosed morgue.