By Adenike Lawal
Hon. Atu Terver Joseph, Principal Special Assistant to Benue State Governor on Youth and Media Mobilization, has dismissed his Chief of Staff, Mr. John Ukeyima, and Chief Press Secretary, Mr. Lubem Terkula, over their alleged involvement in an anti-government protest.
In a suspension letter dated June 14, 2025, and released Sunday evening, Terver accused the aides of acting against the directives of the state government by participating in a mass protest condemning ongoing killings in the state.
The letter cited “a breach of loyalty and dereliction of duty,” and directed both men to withdraw from all official functions with immediate effect.
Their removal follows a large-scale protest in Makurdi on Sunday, where hundreds of youths marched in outrage over the recent massacre in Yelewata, Guma Local Government Area, where nearly 250 residents were reportedly killed by suspected herdsmen.
The protest aimed to draw national and international attention to the worsening security situation in Benue and called for urgent government action and justice for the victims.
