In a bold and controversial statement made during an exclusive interview with Channels Television on Friday, June 6, 2025, the Executive Governor of Benue State, Rev. Fr. Dr. Hyacinth Iormem Alia, accused some Benue politicians based in Abuja of being complicit in the ongoing killings across the state.
Governor Alia, who also serves as the Chief Security Officer of Benue State, stated that credible intelligence from national security agencies points to the involvement of certain National Assembly members and other political figures in the capital. According to him, these individuals are allegedly harbouring terrorists, providing them with food, and arming them with sophisticated weapons to carry out coordinated attacks against communities in the state.
“These killings are not random acts of violence,” the governor asserted. “Some politicians are directly sponsoring and facilitating them for selfish political gains.”
His statement has sparked strong criticism, particularly from political opponents and commentators who described the allegations as inflammatory and unsubstantiated. However, sources within government circles defend the governor’s claims, emphasizing his access to classified intelligence reports.
As Chief Security Officer, Gov. Alia receives regular updates from top intelligence agencies including the Department of State Services (DSS), Defence Intelligence Agency (DIA), and the Force Intelligence Department (FID) of the Nigeria Police. These reports, compiled through various intelligence-gathering techniques — including Human Intelligence (HUMINT), Signals Intelligence (SIGINT), Imagery Intelligence (IMINT), and Open-Source Intelligence (OSINT) — provide detailed assessments of terrorist activities, their sponsors, and imminent threats to the state.
Officials confirm that these intelligence reports are shared not only with the governor but also with senior military commanders, policymakers, and federal authorities, including President Bola Ahmed Tinubu.
Commenting on calls by some groups for a state of emergency to be declared in Benue, insiders suggest the president has been cautious, fully aware of the complex and multi-dimensional nature of the crisis. Sources close to the presidency allege that certain political actors may be attempting to exploit the insecurity to force a declaration of emergency and remove the governor from office.
“The President is not unaware of what’s happening in Benue. He knows the motives behind these attacks, and that’s why he has refused to act on the state of emergency campaigners,” one source said.
While the controversy continues to rage, many observers now await the next steps, particularly whether the identities of the alleged political sponsors of violence will be made public. The coming weeks may be pivotal in exposing what Gov. Alia describes as a “diabolical scheme” threatening the peace and stability of Benue State.
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