In a passionate and far-reaching maiden media address delivered today in Makurdi, Governor Fr. Hyacinth Iormem Alianue State laid bare the severe security and humanitarian crises facing the state, calling on both the federal government and international bodies to rise to the occasion before the situation spirals further.
Speaking with clarity and conviction, the Governor outlined the historical context of Benue’s agricultural dominance, the ongoing displacement crisis, and his administration’s strategic roadmap to restore stability and return the state to its rightful place as Nigeria’s food basket.
Governor Alia opened his speech with a nostalgic yet sobering reflection on Benue’s agrarian strength. “We were the first producers of yams in the world, number one in soybeans, and among the top producers of sesame and rice,” he noted. “We were feeding northern and eastern Nigeria.”
However, this glory has been severely undermined by violent land conflicts, largely attributed to the migration of armed pastoralists. “It is no longer the traditional herder walking with six cows and a machete,” the Governor said. “What we face today is strategic, calculated, and executed with the intent to destabilize.”
He alleged that these attacks are no longer random. Instead, he described a disturbing pattern of premeditated violence: mercenaries first invade, kill, and displace local populations, after which foreign herders and unfamiliar groups occupy the abandoned lands. “It is not just conflict—it is land grabbing,” he declared.
Governor Alia revealed the grim reality that until recently, there was no proper data on the scale of displacement and destruction. “Before we came in, there was no data,” he said. “With the help of the United Nations and the International Organization for Migration (IOM), we have now documented the extent of the crisis.”
Benue currently hosts 14 IDP camps, sheltering thousands of victims of displacement. In response, the Governor unveiled the Benue State Durable Solution Plan for IDPs, a three-pronged strategy focused on:
1. Acceptance and assimilation of displaced persons as fellow Benue citizens with shared culture and identity.
2. Short-term relocation to well-organized camps.
3. Long-term resettlement back to ancestral lands.
He likened the process to healing a deeply infected wound: “One injection is not enough—it requires a series of interventions. That is what we are doing.”
Governor Alia issued a direct appeal to the federal government to intensify its involvement, particularly by reconsidering the ECOWAS Transhumance Protocol, which allows free movement of herders across West African countries. “This agreement was made in good faith, but it is being abused,” he said. “It must be reversed, at least for Nigeria, so we can fix internal insecurity first.”
He stressed that the problems are not unique to Benue. “The North Central and North East regions are under siege,” he said. “But what makes Benue stand out is that we have both natural wealth and fertile lands, and that’s what makes us a target.”
Highlighting the state’s vast natural wealth, Governor Alia warned that Benue’s blessings could easily become its curse. “We have gold, lithium, uranium, fertile land, water—you name it,” he said. “But instead of our resources becoming a source of prosperity, they are drawing invaders.”
He cautioned that unless urgent action is taken, these resources would continue to attract exploitation and conflict. “A stitch in time saves nine,” he warned. “If the federal government takes a step now, we can still reverse this trend.”
Alia confirmed that many of the attackers are not indigenous Nigerians, drawing attention to Benue’s porous borders with Cameroon and several neighboring states. “We know our own people. When we see unfamiliar faces—fighters and mercenaries—we recognize them as outsiders,” he stated.
The Governor expressed concern over the ease with which foreign elements infiltrate the state, particularly through areas like Kwande, which shares a boundary with Cameroon. “These are not just nomads looking for grazing lands. This is organised encroachment,” he emphasized.
Despite the challenges, Governor Alia remained optimistic and resolute. “We have been bastardly destabilized,” he admitted, “but we are making every effort to return to farming, to rebuild, to restore Benue.”
He also shared a light-hearted moment with a fellow governor, recounting a friendly jab from the Governor of Niger State. “He says Niger is keeping the food, Benue is keeping the basket. I tell him, we’re rebuilding the basket—and soon, it’ll be overflowing again.”
Governor Hyacinth Alia’s first media address was more than a policy speech—it was a call to conscience. He urged Nigerians to recognize the scale and urgency of Benue’s crisis and join hands in defending the state’s heritage, people, and land.
“This is not just about Benue. It’s about Nigeria. If Benue stands, the nation eats. If Benue falls, the consequences will be far-reaching,” he said.
As he concluded his remarks in Makurdi, one thing was clear—Governor Alia may be facing an uphill battle, but he is not backing down. Benue, he insists, will rise again.
