Month: June 2025

Makurdi, Nigeria —Amid mounting pressure and public outrage over renewed killings in Benue State, Governor Hyacinth Alia has announced the deployment of special tactical teams and response squads to vulnerable communities, in what appears to be a decisive move to curb escalating insecurity. In a statement released Sunday by his Chief Press Secretary, Tersoo Kula, Governor Alia revealed that federal-backed forces have begun arriving in the state to reinforce local security efforts. “We assure citizens that more tactical teams have started arriving in Benue from the Federal Government, and additional security deployments are being arranged for vulnerable areas,” the statement read. This comes on the heels of a deadly attack on Yelwata community, which left several residents dead and many others displaced. The assailants are suspected to be armed criminal herdsmen. “I acknowledge and share in your pains and grief caused by these attacks,” Alia said, condemning the massacre and pledging justice for the victims. According to the governor, the response includes not just boots on the ground but an all-hands-on-deck approach, involving traditional rulers, security agencies, and grassroots leaders in intelligence gathering and conflict prevention. “Strategic community dialogues are ongoing to enhance active intelligence sharing,” Alia disclosed. He further noted that Benue’s joint operations units are being reinforced, with more firepower and personnel committed to protecting lives and property. In a call for calm, the governor urged religious, political, and traditional leaders to help de-escalate tensions and discourage unlawful gatherings or retaliatory actions that could worsen the crisis. “We must guide our youths away from actions that could spiral out of control,” he cautioned. The state government also encouraged residents to report suspicious activity through official channels and to rely on verified information sources to avoid panic and misinformation. Meanwhile, Deputy Governor Sam Ode has visited Yelwata to commiserate with survivors and reassure them of the government’s commitment to their safety. Governor Alia concluded with a strong promise: “We will not rest on our oars until peace is restored to every corner of Benue State.” As the tactical teams settle in, all eyes are on whether this latest deployment will finally halt the wave of bloodshed that has plagued the state in recent months.

Makurdi, Nigeria —The African Action Congress (AAC) has come down hard on Benue State Governor Hyacinth Alia, accusing him of unleashing a full-blown military-style assault on peaceful protesters in Makurdi with armoured vehicles, helicopters, and tear gas. In a blistering statement issued Sunday, Agena Robert Ande, AAC Chairman for the Federal Capital Territory and a prominent human rights advocate, condemned what he described as “state-sponsored brutality” and “an outrageous display of thuggish governance.” The protesters, who had gathered to demand an end to relentless killings in the state, were reportedly met with a barrage of violent suppression instead of dialogue or sympathy. “Governor Alia’s deployment of heavy security machinery against unarmed citizens is a cowardly and inhumane act,” Ande said. “This is not governance — it’s thuggery under the guise of leadership.” According to Ande, the protesters’ only demand was for Governor Alia to take decisive action against the frequent bloodshed allegedly carried out by armed herdsmen in various communities across the state. “Rather than address the protesters or condemn the killings, the governor chose brute force. It’s a damning indictment of his administration’s empathy deficit and gross incompetence,” he added. The AAC leader linked the root of Benue’s turmoil to the government’s consistent failure to confront the activities of violent herdsmen. He claimed the state’s silence has only emboldened attackers. “These atrocities didn’t start yesterday. The Fulani herdsmen have carried out unchecked violence for years. Governor Alia’s attempts to shift blame or dodge responsibility show a dangerous unwillingness to confront reality,” Ande said. He called on the governor to publicly condemn the attacks, initiate a people-centered security strategy, and hold perpetrators accountable. Ande also noted that several eyewitnesses claimed the attackers came from neighbouring Nasarawa State, urging cross-border collaboration to stop the spread of terror. “The attackers reportedly came from Nasarawa. Alia must work with neighbouring governors to ensure their territories don’t become launchpads for terrorism,” he warned. Commenting on reports of arrests and assault, Ande did not mince words: “Beating peaceful protesters into stupor, firing live rounds, and handing them over to the police is not law enforcement — it is state tyranny. The people of Benue are losing patience.” While the number of arrests remains unclear, the AAC insisted the protests were a sign that the people refuse to be silenced. “The people of Benue will not forget the cruelty they faced under this administration. They will continue to demand justice and accountability,” Ande concluded. As tensions mount in the state, AAC’s bold denunciation has amplified growing public outcry over the government’s handling of both the killings and the protesters’ treatment — setting the stage for increased scrutiny on Alia’s administration.

Abuja, Nigeria – June 5, 2025Labour Party’s presidential candidate in the 2023 elections, Peter Obi, has expressed deep sorrow over the recent mass killings in Benue State, describing the tragedy as “a national emergency” and a profound failure of leadership. In a strongly worded statement released on Wednesday, Obi condemned the brutal murder of over 200 individuals, including women, children, soldiers, and displaced persons, during what he described as a “single onslaught” on communities in the state. “My heart is heavy as I learn of yet another horrific series of killings in Benue… This tragedy has become too common in our national life,” Obi said. The former Anambra State governor lamented the widespread destruction of homes, the displacement of families, and the collapse of entire communities, describing the attacks as more than just acts of violence. “This is not merely violence. It is a failure of leadership, a stain on our collective conscience,” he said, adding that every Nigerian life lost is precious and irreplaceable. Call for Urgent Government Action Obi criticised what he sees as a growing normalisation of mass killings in the country and urged federal, state, and local authorities to fulfil their primary constitutional duty of protecting lives and property. “When government repeatedly fails in this duty, we must ask: what kind of nation are we bequeathing to our children?” He called for urgent, deliberate, and comprehensive action to protect communities in Benue and other crisis-prone regions, warning that symbolic gestures or political statements are no longer sufficient. “Let your actions speak louder than visits or statements,” he urged the government. “It’s time to prove commitment to protecting citizens.” Solidarity with Victims Offering condolences and solidarity to the people of Benue, Obi said: “To the people of Benue, I say: your pain is our pain. The blood of your loved ones cries out for justice.” He reiterated that a safe and secure Benue is not an unrealistic demand but a moral and national obligation, insisting that Nigeria must not accept a future defined by bloodshed and impunity. “This is not the Nigeria we deserve, nor the Nigeria we aspire to,” he concluded. “We must end this bloodshed. We must reclaim our humanity.”