PSA to Benue Governor Suspends Aides Over Protest Against Killings

The Principal Special Assistant (PSA) to the Governor of Benue State on Youth and Media Mobilization, Hon. Atu Terver Joseph, has relieved his Chief of Staff, Mr. John Ukeyima, and the Chief Press Secretary, Mr. Lubem Terkula, of their duties for allegedly participating in a public demonstration condemning ongoing mass killings in the state.

The announcement came in the form of an official letter from Terver on Sunday night. In the letter, the PSA accused the two officials of undermining the state government’s stance by joining a protest that contradicted official directives.

According to the PSA’s letter:

“This serves as your formal notification of immediate and indefinite suspension from your positions as Chief of Staff and Chief Press Secretary, starting from June 14, 2025.

“Your actions have been identified as directly opposing the outlined directives of your Principal. Such behavior represents a grave violation of the responsibilities and confidence entrusted to your office.

“During this suspension, you are to abstain from all government functions and you are strictly forbidden from acting as a representative of this office or myself in any form.”

LMSINT MEDIA gathered that hundreds of youths in Benue State took to the streets of Makurdi, the state capital, on Sunday in a large-scale protest aimed at spotlighting the escalating wave of fatal assaults by suspected Fulani herdsmen.

This wave of public outrage followed a particularly horrific incident in the Yelewata community, situated in Guma Local Government Area, where nearly 250 civilians lost their lives in a recent attack.