Benue State Governor, Hyacinth Alia, has made strong allegations against some prominent politicians based in Abuja and the National Assembly, accusing them of fueling the ongoing violence in the state by allegedly supporting, harbouring, and providing resources to those behind the crisis.
Governor Alia made the remarks during an appearance on Politics Today, a political affairs program on Channels Television, aired on Friday.
“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, and taking care of all their needs and buying all the other gadgets for them,” the governor said.
He stressed that while these politicians seem more concerned with securing their own positions, his primary focus remains protecting the lives and interests of the people of Benue State.
Judicial Panel Findings Expected to Name Big Politicians
Alia revealed that his administration had set up a judicial panel of inquiry to investigate the recurring attacks. He disclosed that an interim report has already been submitted, and the final report is expected by Tuesday or Wednesday of next week.
“Once we receive this report that is coming, we are going to take it up very seriously. There are quite a lot of big names that are mentioned here,” he said.
Although he did not name specific individuals, the governor made it clear that those found culpable would face consequences.
“Benue Is Under Siege” — Alia Labels Situation as Terrorism
Governor Alia also declared that Benue State is under siege, asserting that the crisis is not just about ethnic or communal clashes but amounts to terrorism. He explained that recent intelligence has revealed coordinated and deliberate attacks, which go beyond the traditional herder-farmer conflicts.
“We are under siege. The way these attacks come and the intel we receive, it is a directed, calibrated plan and then executed,” Alia said. “Daily, we are receiving that intel. Of late, each of the intel we receive, 60 to 65 per cent of it is quite accurate.”
He emphasized that the attacks appear to be pre-planned and targeted, and reaffirmed his administration’s commitment to uncovering the truth and restoring peace to Benue.
