The Speaker of the Benue State House of Assembly, Aondona Dajoh

The Speaker of the Benue State House of Assembly, Aondona Dajoh, has ordered the immediate release of youths arrested during recent protests across the state.

Dajoh gave the directive today at an emergency plenary session held in response to growing public outcry over the detention of demonstrators protesting the spate of insecurity in some parts of the state.

While addressing lawmakers on the floor of the Assembly, the Speaker reaffirmed the House’s commitment to upholding democratic values and protecting the constitutional rights of citizens.

He described peaceful protest as a fundamental right that must be respected in any democratic setting, adding that no citizen should be penalised for voicing concerns through lawful means.

His declaration drew applause from members of the House and was welcomed by civil society organisations as a strong defence of civil liberties.

The speaker also urged security operatives to act with professionalism and caution in dealing with future public demonstrations, emphasising the need for dialogue and mutual respect.

Meanwhile, the Assembly has resolved to investigate the circumstances surrounding the arrests and engage relevant authorities to prevent a repeat of such incidents.

DailyPost