Benue State Governor, Hyacinth Alia, has made serious allegations against unnamed top politicians based in Abuja and within the National Assembly, accusing them of being the driving force behind the persistent killings and insecurity plaguing the state.
Speaking to newsmen, Governor Alia claimed that these politicians are not only instigating violence but also allegedly providing direct support to those responsible.
“It is very, very unsettling because top politicians who are very functional and are in the National Assembly and are in Abuja, are the architects and arrowheads of not just instigating, but harbouring and keeping these people and feeding them in the bushes,” Alia said. “They’re taking care of all their needs and buying all the other gadgets for them. This is extremely unacceptable.”
Judicial Panel and Upcoming Report
While he refrained from naming any individuals, the governor revealed that a judicial panel he set up to investigate the causes of the ongoing attacks had already submitted an interim report, with the final report expected within days.
“There are quite a lot of big names that are mentioned here,” he said. “Once we receive this report that is coming, we are going to take it up and take it up very seriously.”
Beyond Farmer-Herder Clashes
Alia strongly rejected the notion that the violence in Benue is simply a result of traditional farmer-herder conflicts. According to him, the state is facing a more complex and dangerous form of organized violence.
“We are under siege,” the governor declared. “It is a directed, calibrated plan and then executed. Daily, we are receiving intel… and 60 to 65 per cent of it is quite accurate.”
He emphasized that the scale and coordination of the attacks point toward terrorism rather than local communal disputes.
Protecting the Masses
Governor Alia said he remains committed to defending the interests of ordinary citizens, stressing that while some political figures may be fixated on power, his duty is to safeguard lives.
“If they do not love the lives of the people and they’re only fighting for their own position, I think I am serving the interest of the common masses and it is a concern to me,” he said. “It is my right to protect it.”
What you should know
Governor Hyacinth Alia of Benue State has accused top Abuja-based politicians of orchestrating and funding attacks in the state.
With a judicial panel’s report set to expose key names, Alia promises serious action as he describes the crisis as a form of terrorism—not mere ethnic clashes.
