Governor Abdullahi Sule of Nasarawa State has denied allegations linking him and his administration to the sheltering of armed herdsmen allegedly responsible for the recent killings in Benue State.
The governor’s response follows growing accusations from prominent Benue indigenes, including a viral video by Professor Zachary Anger Gundu, a former Pro-Chancellor and Chairman of Council at Benue State University, Makurdi.
In the video, Prof. Gundu alleged that Governor Sule was “masking the killings in Benue State” and “forcefully taking over farmlands belonging to the Tiv people of Nasarawa State and handing over same to Fulani herdsmen.”
Addressing a press briefing in Lafia on Wednesday, Chief Press Secretary to the governor, Ibrahim Addra, condemned the statements, calling them “unsubstantiated” and “baseless.”
“We are constrained to respond to a series of allegations against the person of Governor of Nasarawa State, Engr. Abdullahi Sule and the Government of the State by some prominent sons and daughters of Benue State in the wake of the unfortunate killings in that state,” Addra said.
He noted that Governor Sule, who also serves as Chairman of the North-Central Governors’ Forum, was deeply concerned about the violence in neighbouring Benue but dismayed by the accusations levelled against him.
“We are dismayed that Prof. Gundu could stoop so low and throw caution to the wind by making such unsubstantiated and baseless allegations against the Governor,” he stated.
Addra reiterated that the Nasarawa government shares in the grief of the people of Benue and remains committed to peaceful coexistence across the North-Central region.
“Let it be known that Governor Abdullahi Sule, the Government and people of Nasarawa State are pained by the killings in Benue State but highly disappointed by the series of false allegations coming from a supposed statesman and other prominent sons and daughters of Benue State,” he said.
The governor, through his spokesperson, also issued a stern warning, demanding a retraction and public apology.
“Governor Sule has issued warning to his recent accuser that he is left with no option but to take legal actions if apology is not made to retract the statement made against him in the video making the round,” Addra noted.
He challenged Prof. Gundu to provide concrete evidence backing his claims.
“We challenge Prof. Gundu to prove his allegations with empirical evidence, detailing where the said killer herdsmen are being camped in Nasarawa State and the involvement of the Governor in such. Failure to prove these allegations Governor Abdullahi Sule will institute legal actions against the former Pro-Chancellor and his co-travellers,” Addra added.