Benue Assembly Beefs Up Security Around Complex

By Tor Vande-Acka, Makurdi The Speaker, Benue State House of Assembly, Terkimbi Ikyange, has noted the current security challenges faced in the country has made it to be wary of its surrounding. The speaker who made this known in a statement signed by the Chief Press Secretary (CPS), Bem Abunde, noted that it was in this regard that the assembly decided to beef up security in and around the complex. He observed that the security beef-up in the complex was what led to the misunderstanding that the Channels TV reporter was banned from covering the activities of the lawmakers. The speaker said that the fracas that recently ensued in the house was among some of the concerns raised by security agencies that warranted the increase in security. “The security concerns arising from the previous sitting of the Assembly, coupled with the security report received from security agencies, there was the need to beef up security in and around the Assembly complex, while journalists coming to cover its proceedings were also subjected to security checks.” He described as false the claim by the Channels Television reporter that all other journalists were allowed access to the complex except its crew members, insisting that the only group of journalists that were allowed into the Chamber was that made up the Assembly media crew due to their earlier accreditation. “It has been a policy of the House leadership to accredit all journalists covering the activities of the House, saying the Assembly has no intention to prevent any media outfit from covering its activities, but advised them to subject themselves to accreditation process” to enable it know journalists covering its activities,” Ikyange explained. Ikyange further pointed out that the explanation became necessary in view of reports making the rounds that he has barred the television station from covering its activities. He insisted that as lawmakers elected to represent the people, the House owed the public a responsibility to be accountable and transparent in all its dealings.