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A high-profile thanksgiving service scheduled for Sunday, 7th December 2025, in honour of the Executive Secretary of the National Pension Commission and former Attorney-General of Benue State, Barr. Pius Akutah, at NKST Primary School Afia, Ukum Local Government Area, has been cancelled indefinitely.
The sudden decision was announced in a widely circulated statement signed by the Executive Chairman/Chief Security Officer of Ukum Local Government Council, Hon. Jonathan Modi, citing credible security intelligence that the current situation in the area remains “very porous, undetermined and vulnerable.”
According to the statement, security agencies currently conducting theatre operations in the general Ukum axis strongly advised against any large gathering at this time, warning that such an event could endanger the lives of attendees.
Hon. Modi, while expressing deep regret over the inconvenience the cancellation would cause, stressed that the safety of Ukum people and visitors supersedes every other consideration, hence the difficult but necessary decision to suspend the programme until further notice.
The statement was copied to the Divisional Police Officer Zaki Biam, the Department of State Services, NSCDC Ukum, the Unit Commander of Operation Dzenda, and the organising committee of the thanksgiving.
Sources close to the Akutah family confirmed that the thanksgiving was planned as a grand homecoming to appreciate God for the appointee’s elevation to the federal cabinet-level position and to celebrate his contributions to the development of Ukum and Benue State.
Though the new date will be communicated later, the cancellation has thrown the entire Ukum political circle into disappointment, with many describing it as another painful reminder of the lingering security challenges that continue to disrupt normal life in parts of the Sankera axis.
Residents now hope that the ongoing military and police operations will soon restore enough calm to allow such community celebrations to hold without fear.
