Dr. Hon. Agune Terzungwe Emmanuel, House of Representatives aspirant for Gboko/Tarka Federal Constituency under the Social Democratic Party (SDP), has condemned the early morning attack on villages in Tarka bordering Nongov in Guma Local Government Area of Benue State.
In a statement, he said he received the news with deep sadness, noting that the attack reportedly resulted in the loss of lives, injuries and the burning of houses. Describing the development as painful and unfortunate, he extended sincere condolences to the affected families and communities.
As a son of Benue State and an advocate for peace, he strongly appealed to all parties to exercise restraint and avoid further bloodshed. “No disagreement is worth the loss of innocent lives, and no community can achieve lasting progress through violence,” he stated.
He urged the relevant security agencies and government authorities to urgently intervene, protect vulnerable communities, bring the situation under control and ensure that those responsible for the attacks are brought to justice. He also appealed to community leaders, elders and stakeholders on both sides to encourage dialogue, mutual understanding and peaceful coexistence.
Emmanuel stressed that the protection of lives and property must remain a priority, adding that the people deserve to live, farm, trade and raise their children without fear of attack. He said the tragedy reminds everyone of the urgent need for stronger community security, early warning systems and effective conflict-resolution mechanisms to prevent future occurrences.
He prayed that God would comfort the bereaved families, grant quick recovery to the injured and restore lasting peace to Tarka, Guma and the entire Benue State, noting that peace is a collective responsibility and the time to pursue it is now.
