Ribadu gave the assurance during a stakeholders’ meeting in Makurdi, following the killing of over 72 persons in Ukum and Logo Local Government Areas on Good Friday.

He stated that President Bola Tinubu had emphasised that Benue was not alone in its current security challenges, noting that the entire country was grappling with similar issues.

Describing the killings as a national tragedy, Ribadu said, “It was evil that visited the state.”

He added that the Tinubu administration inherited a deeply troubled nation and was working diligently to repair the damage.

“I’m here to commiserate with you and the good people of Benue over the loss of your people and to assure you that the country stands with you.

“The President is with you. This is a trying period for us all.

“This is a moment of sorrow, and it is during such times that you know those who truly care.

“What happened is a tragedy — an act of evil. But when evil comes, good people must unite to confront it.

“Benue is an extremely important state in Nigeria. As the food basket of the nation, you are number one in food production, and we are proud of you.

“We will solve this problem together. Do not feel alone — this challenge affects us all.

“Our armed forces and security agencies are doing their best, but such incidents persist because it is impossible to deploy personnel to every hamlet.

“Countries go through difficult phases. Insecurity is a tough challenge to overcome.

“Causing harm is easy, but solving the underlying issues is much harder — yet we are doing our best.

“As a government of less than two years, we have already significantly reduced the levels of extreme violence we inherited,” he said.

In his remarks, Gov. Hyacinth Alia described the situation as a sober moment for the state, saying that Benue had been under siege with immense loss of lives since 2011.

He lamented that killings by terrorists, bandits, and militias had devastated the state’s economy.

“These people have no reason to coexist with peaceful citizens. We have suffered the loss of lives, farmlands, and property.

“There are currently 17 IDP camps in the state, and it has been difficult to return our people to their ancestral homes.

“Sankera is the headquarters of food production in the state, yet the attacks have been persistent and unrelenting.

“Instead of a Good Friday, we experienced a Black Friday, marked by venomous attacks on Katsina-Ala, Ukum, and Logo.

“It is a devastating time for us. We lost 72 lives — it is unbearable. I have maintained regular contact with the NSA.

“Our security agencies have worked tirelessly to contain the attacks, but we urgently need more support.

“The President has been very supportive, and we are hopeful that more help is on the way,” the governor said.(NAN)

Predicting the wave of tariffs and uncertainty unleashed by U.S. President Donald Trump will lead to a worldwide economic slowdown.

The IMF revised its projection of 3.3 per cent forecast in January.

Global growth for 2026 was projected to drop to 3 per cent, also down from 3.3 per cent.

IMF economic counsellor Pierre-Olivier Gourinchas said the world economy was being severely tested following the new tariffs announced by Trump.

The IMF noted that its April forecast was “put together under exceptional circumstances,

“ Citing Trump’s announcement on April 2 that the U.S. was imposing blanket tariffs of 10 per cent on nearly all trading partners, plus additional levies for a host of countries.

While the higher tariffs have been suspended for 90 days to allow for trade negotiations, the policy caused the IMF expert “to jettison our projections,” Gourinchas said.

“While many of the scheduled tariff increases are on hold for now, the combination of measures and countermeasures has hiked U.S. and global tariff rates to centennial highs.”

The global economy proved surprisingly resilient during the shocks of the last four years including a period of global high inflation linked to energy prices and “the war in Ukraine and still bears significant scars,” the IMF said.

Now, inflation could rise again amid the trade tensions, while the uncertainty surrounding them was weighing on growth, it said. (dpa/NAN)