By Harriet Tornguvan -Abuja
The Turan Development Association (TUDA) has called on Governor Hyacinth Alia to take immediate action to curb the deteriorating security situation in Turan communities, which have suffered repeated attacks and widespread displacement.
In a press statement signed by TUDA President General, Mr. Festus Terkura Iorkyaa, and Secretary-General, Mr. Emmanuel Ijever, the association refuted the governor’s recent claim that peace had returned to Kwande, asserting that the reality on the ground contradicts this assertion.
According to TUDA, Turan communities have endured relentless violence, resulting in the deaths of at least 50 people between December 2024 and February 2025.
The group further highlighted that homes, farmlands, and properties continue to be destroyed, forcing many residents into displacement and exposing them to fear, hunger, and despair.
The association emphasized that the governor’s claim suggests he has not been properly briefed by security agencies and his aides regarding the true situation in Turan.
“As the Chief Security Officer of the state, the governor has a fundamental duty to safeguard all communities.
"The ongoing violence requires urgent intervention, increased security presence, and a clear strategy to restore stability and facilitate the safe return of displaced persons,” TUDA stated.
The group urged Governor Alia to take swift and decisive measures to prevent further loss of life and destruction in the area.
Additionally, TUDA expressed deep concern over recent remarks by Governor Alia, in which he accused former Secretary to the Government of Benue State, Engr. Prof. Joseph Alakali, of fraudulent activities.
The association described these allegations as unjust and harmful to both the elder statesman’s reputation and the Turan people.
In a related development, the Movement for Turan Liberation (MTL), in collaboration with Turan Youth Volunteers, staged a peaceful protest on Friday in Jato-Aka, Kwande Local Government Area. The demonstrators, including numerous Internally Displaced Persons (IDPs), voiced their concerns over the continued attacks on innocent Turan residents, allegedly by Fulani herdsmen.
The protesters insisted that peace had not been restored in the area and urged both state and federal governments to take immediate action to address the escalating humanitarian crisis.
