The Speaker of Cross River State, Elvert Ayambem, has expressed fears that the killings and porous security situation in neighbouring Benue State could spill over into his state.
He has called on President Bola Tinubu to be proactive and decisive in tackling the terrorism and killings in Benue State.
He called for strengthening of security in borderline communities so as to avert a possible spillover of the situation in Benue.
He spoke on the floor of the Assembly chambers today when they observed one minute’s silence to honour the over 200 villagers of a Benue State village that were burnt a few days ago by insurgents.
He frowned at the insecurity that results in the massacring of Nigerians in Benue, Niger, and other states, saying it has become intolerable.
He called on President Tinubu, who is paying an official visit to Benue tomorrow, to take serious actions to stop the impunity of the terrorists.
“The mayhem in Benue and nearby Niger State has become intolerable. The killings in Benue State should be stopped and perpetrators brought to book.
“This should be done quickly to also protect our own people residing in neighbouring communities to Benue from incursions or spillover of the killings,”; he said.
While sympathizing with the government and people of Benue State, the Speaker reiterated the call for the swift establishment of state police.
He cautioned that the establishment should no longer be delayed.
According to Ayambem, with state police, some of the infiltrations of strange elements into local communities could be spotted, reported, and contained beforehand.
He advised that the lives of Nigerians must be given equal attention, as no one Nigerian is more Nigerian than the other.
