Governor Hyacinth Alia of Benue State has raised alarm over what he describes as a coordinated campaign of terror against the state, saying that the recent surge in deadly attacks is far beyond the usual herder-farmer clashes that have long plagued the region.
Speaking during a televised interview on Friday, Governor Alia declared that Benue is “under siege” and facing what he termed “a directed, calibrated plan” being executed by organised terrorist elements.
“We are under siege,” Alia said in response to questions about whether the escalating violence amounted to terrorism. “The way these attacks come and the intel we receive it is a directed, calibrated plan and then executed. On a daily basis, we are receiving intel, and 60 to 65 per cent of it proves accurate.”
He emphasised that the nature of the attacks swift, deadly, and without a trace suggests a level of tactical sophistication not typically associated with spontaneous communal clashes.
“For some reason, none of them is ever caught. They come in the thick of the night, hit, run, and disappear without a trace. This is no longer just a farmer-herder issue it is terrorism eating us up,” he warned.
Accuses Politicians of Backing Terror Attacks
In a startling revelation, Governor Alia also accused some serving members of the National Assembly of instigating and sponsoring the violent attacks in the state.
He disclosed that an interim report from a judicial panel set up by his administration to investigate the crisis had already implicated certain individuals with more details expected in the full report due next week.
“It is very unsettling because some politicians who are very functional and are in the National Assembly, based in Abuja, are the architects and arrowheads of not just instigating, but harbouring and financing these people,” Alia alleged.
“They are keeping them in the bushes, taking care of all their bills, and buying all the gadgets for them. This is extremely unacceptable.”
The governor vowed to act swiftly and decisively once the panel’s final report is submitted, saying he owes it to the people of Benue to protect their lives and hold those responsible accountable.
“If they do not value the lives of our people and are simply fighting for their political positions, I believe my responsibility is to the masses. Once the report is in, we will take it seriously and take action,” he said.
