Benue State Governor, Rev. Fr. Hyacinth Alia, has issued a strong advisory, stating that he cannot guarantee the safety of any individual or group attempting to visit the state without prior notification or formal approval.

The warning was contained in a statement released on Monday, April 14, by the Governor’s Chief Press Secretary, Tersoo Kula, titled “Notice Regarding Unscheduled Visit to Benue State.”

Governor Alia noted that he is currently engaged in critical high-level meetings with key stakeholders to address pressing issues affecting the state and emphasized that he is not expecting any visitors at this time.

“The Governor of Benue State, Rev. Fr. Hyacinth Alia, wishes to inform the public that he is not expecting any August visitor to the state today,” the statement read. “He is currently engaged in high-profile meetings with key state actors to discuss critical issues affecting our state.”

He warned against unapproved visits, particularly those that could result in political assemblies or public gatherings, stating clearly that such visits would be at the visitor’s own risk.

“Therefore, he strongly advises against any group or high-profile individual(s) attempting to enter the state for any kind of visit that may generate political assemblies without prior approval. For anyone considering a visit to Benue State without the Governor’s knowledge, it is imperative to reconsider such plans, as the safety and security of individuals in this regard cannot be guaranteed.”

The governor also directed that any individual or organization planning to visit Internally Displaced Persons (IDP) camps within the state must first obtain written permission from the Benue State Emergency Management Agency (BSEMA).

The statement concluded with a call for security agencies and the general public to take note of the directive and ensure peace and order are maintained across the state.