Control1stAdmin1
From Dooshima Terkura Makurdi
The People’s Democratic Party PDP, aspirant for Makurdi/Guma Federal Constituency, Dr. Emmanuel Shior, has described the demolition of his business premises in Makurdi as politically motivated to whittle members of the opposition in the state.
Shior who spoke through a member of his Media Team, Samuel Aondohemba, called on well-meaning Nigerians, civil society organisations, democratic institutions, and the international community to take note the growing pattern of state-sponsored intimidation in Benue State.
Aondohemba, in a statement made available to newsmen in Markurdi, alleged that the state Governor Rev Fr Hyacinth Alia is abusing state powers by launching political witch-hunt on opposition business properties.
He comdemned the demolition of Verlush Restaurant and Lounge in Makurdi, owned bu Shior saying the business premises was dully approved by the Benue State Urban Development Board, s
I susting that its demolition was “targeted and politically motivated.”
According to him, the demolition was carried out Friday night November 21, 2025 on the direct orders of the Governor of Benue State, Rev Fr Hyacinth Alia.
“The Governor personally visited the business premises, pointed at the structure, and instructed that the structure should be brought down in 30 minutes.
“Consequently, just 10 minutes after he left, officials of the Benue State Urban Development Board arrived with heavily armed security personnel and bulldozers and immediately commenced demolition without any notice, explanation, or opportunity to salvage property.
“The staff of the Restaurant were not allowed to remove a single item. Equipment, furniture, documents, and goods were completely destroyed as the bulldozers moved in.
“It is highly suspicious that other businesses along the same lane including Star Shawarma were left untouched, clearly indicating selective enforcement and a deliberate attempt to target Dr. Shior as a member of the opposition and a PDP aspirant for Makurdi/Guma Federal Constituency.”
Aondohemba expressed worry that at a time when insecurity is ravaging the State, with countless communities under attack and citizens living in fear, “Governor Alia has chosen to deploy state power, security operatives, and government machinery to harass political opponents rather than protect the lives of the people he swore to serve.
“We strongly condemn this unlawful, vindictive, and undemocratic action, which represents a grave abuse of state authority and a disturbing attempt to intimidate members of the opposition.
“We call on well-meaning Nigerians, civil society organisations, democratic institutions, and the international community to take note of this growing pattern of state-sponsored intimidation in Benue State.
“We remain committed to seeking legal redress and defending the principles of justice, democracy, and the rule of law.”
In his response, Acting General Manager, Benue State Urban Development Board, Ternongo Mede, said he served them on 20th of this month (November), 2025.
Mede said “We went and served them demolition notice and marked the place for demolition. Coincidentally, His Excellency was passing there the following day which was Thursday and he noticed the tree furnitures was cut down, these trees were planted by the state government during Akume’s period by Ogiri Ajene and people have been going to hack down the trees.
“We have been talking to our people and they still go ahead to fall trees. So when he noticed that the trees were fell, he stopped there. When I got there, the people told me, he stopped and walked to the place and asked who did and was told the person operating the place.
“It was at the point he called me to know why the activity was there and I replied that we have served them and marked the place for demolition. But I told him we don’t have a moving vehicle to execute the demolition but he told me that he wanted me to do it before the following day morning and if I don’t I would be in trouble. He called me around 5:30pm and I had to move there to carry out the directive but I served them notice earlier.”
