Benue: PDP Chieftain Alleges Witch-Hunt, Intimidation as Government Demolishes Business Premises

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 a politically motivated action aimed at weakening opposition members in the state.

Speaking through a member of his media team, Samuel Aondohemba, Shior called on well-meaning Nigerians, civil society organisations, democratic institutions, and the international community to take note of what he termed a growing pattern of state-sponsored intimidation in Benue State.

In a statement made available to newsmen in Makurdi, Aondohemba alleged that Governor Rev. Fr. Hyacinth Alia is abusing state power by targeting business properties owned by opposition figures.

He condemned the demolition of Verlush Restaurant and Lounge in Makurdi, owned by Shior, insisting that the business premises had been duly approved by the Benue State Urban Development Board. He maintained that the demolition was “targeted and politically motivated.”

According to him, the demolition was carried out on Friday night, November 21, 2025, under the direct orders of Governor 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 concern that at a time when insecurity is ravaging the state—leaving 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.”

Responding, the Acting General Manager of the Benue State Urban Development Board, Ternongo Mede, said a demolition notice had been served on the establishment on November 20, 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 that the tree furniture had been cut down. These trees were planted by the state government during Akume’s period by Ogiri Ajene, and people have been going there to hack down the trees.

“We have been talking to our people, yet they still go ahead to fell the trees. So when he noticed that the trees were felled, he stopped there. When I got there, the people told me he stopped and walked to the place and asked who did it, and he was told it was the person operating the place.

“It was at that point he called me to know why the activity was happening there, and I replied that we had served them and marked the place for demolition. But I told him we didn’t have a moving vehicle to execute the demolition, and he instructed me to ensure the demolition was carried out before the next morning, warning that I would be in trouble if I failed.

“He called me around 5:30 pm, and I had to move there to carry out the directive, but I had already served them notice earlier.”