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Residents of Mbazaagee, Mbagen, and Mbaloosu wards in Buruku Local Government Area of Benue State have issued a heartfelt public appeal to Governor Hyacinth Alia, the Executive Chairman of Buruku LGA Hon. Raymond Zege Aondoakura, and their representatives in the State House of Assembly and House of Representatives, pleading for urgent government intervention in basic infrastructure that neighboring communities take for granted.
In an open letter that has gone viral on social media, the people lament that despite their consistent support for successive governments and their contributions to the state’s food basket status, their area remains one of the most neglected in Benue State since its creation. They accuse politicians of remembering the community only during election campaigns, with promises that vanish immediately after votes are counted.
The communities highlight the total absence of four critical amenities:
– Electricity: decades without a single transformer or power line
– Functional healthcare facilities: the few existing clinics lack staff, drugs, and equipment
– Potable water: residents still trek long distances to streams and dug wells
– Motorable roads: the complete absence of all-season roads has turned their area into an island during the rainy season
The most pressing demand is the construction of the long-abandoned Abakwa–Ihugh road, a vital artery that would link Mbazaagee and surrounding communities to the rest of the state. According to the appeal, when rains come, farmers cannot transport their produce to markets, leading to massive post-harvest losses of yam, rice, and other crops that rot on farms. Pregnant women and the sick are carried on motorcycles or stretchers through muddy paths because no vehicle can access the area for months.
“We watch helplessly as other communities enjoy rapid development while ours remains stagnant,” the letter reads, expressing pain at being treated as second-class citizens in their own state.
The appeal specifically tags Governor Hyacinth Alia, whom the writers still express confidence in, believing that his administration’s reputation for people-oriented governance can still reach them if their plight is brought to his direct attention. They also called on the Buruku LGA chairman and their elected representatives—Hon. Abraham Jabi (State Assembly) and Hon. Dzua Sekav Iortyom (House of Representatives)—to prove that representation goes beyond collecting salaries in Makurdi and Abuja.
As of the time of this report, none of the tagged officials have publicly responded to the viral appeal, but sources within Buruku say pressure is mounting for the state government to at least include the Abakwa–Ihugh road in the 2026 budget or fast-track it as an emergency rural access project.
For now, the people of Mbazaagee and Mbagen wait—again—hoping that this time, their cry will not be another voice lost in the wind of election-cycle politics.
