Former Attorney General of the Federation and Minister of Justice, Chief Michael Aondoakaa, has urged the United States government to extend its air str+kes to Benue State to flush out terr+rists and b@ndits operating in the area.
He made the call during a late-night consultation dinner with political stakeholders in Makurdi on Friday, attended by leaders of both the All Progressives Congress (APC) and the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP).
Aondoakaa’s appeal follows recent US air str+kes on Islamic State-linked camps in Sokoto State’s Bauni forest on Christmas Day. He argued that similar action is long overdue in Benue due to the growing presence of armed groups.
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“There are terr+rists in Benue State. The US air str+kes should have started here before going to Sokoto,” he said, lamenting that several local government areas had been overrun by attackers.
According to him, armed groups allegedly masquerading as herders have att@cked communities, destroyed livelihoods, displaced residents and occupied farmlands across the state.
Aondoakaa, who is seeking the Benue governorship in 2027, criticised the state government’s handling of security challenges and condemned recent k+llings, including the reported ma+s@cre of about 200 people in Yelwata community.
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While commending President Bola Ahmed Tinubu’s efforts to address insecurity nationwide, he called for sustained federal support for Benue and pledged to prioritise the protection of lives and property if elected governor.
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