By Peter Duru, Makurdi

Governor Hyacinth Alia of Benue State has constituted a five-man Judicial Commission of Inquiry on the recent violent protests and attacks in Zaki Biam, Ukum Local Government Area, LGA, of the state.

Recall that about three weeks ago hundreds of irate youths had poured into the streets of Sankera to protest an attack on Ayati community in Borikyo Council Ward of the LGA by suspected armed bandits that claimed lives and left others injured.

The youths reportedly stormed the official residence of the Local Government Caretaker Chairman with the corpses of the dead, took over the Sankera -Ayati-Sai road and made a bonfire on the highway in protest and eventually went violent after the protest was said to have been hijacked by miscreants.

They razed several government and personal properties in the town including the Independent National Electoral Commission, INEC, office, Local Government Secretariat, Legislative building, and personal properties of the Chief of Staff to the Governor, Mr. Paul Biam among others.

The development compelled the state government to impose an initial 24-hour curfew on the LGA to forestall further escalation of the crisis which was later relaxed to a dusk-to-dawn curfew.

While addressing the state on the issue Governor Alia had promised to set up a panel of Inquiry to probe the cause of the violent protest.

The Attorney-General and Commissioner for Justice and Public Order, Fidelis Mnyim in a statement in Makurdi announcing the inauguration of the Panel said it would be Chaired by Justice Samson Itodo (retd.) while a Deputy Director Administration, Office of the Benue State Head of Service, Mrs. Ngufan Ahenjir would act as Secretary.

Other members of the Panel were Mr. Felix Iber, a retired Chief Magistrate, retired Police Superintendent Timothy Ayakpam and Mr. Enyikwola Ejembi, the Lead Counsel, who is a Director, Citizens Rights in the Ministry of Justice and Public Order.

The Governor congratulated the appointees who he said were carefully selected based on their record of service and wealth of experience and was “confident that they will deliver on the mandate given to them.”

The statement noted that “the sittings of the commission shall be held in Gboko. The venue and time of the sittings will be communicated in due course.”