Benue State Governor, Hyacinth Alia, has voiced deep frustration over the worsening insecurity in the state, criticizing the inability of security forces to apprehend perpetrators of repeated violent attacks.
Speaking through his media aide, Kula Tersoo, Governor Alia stated that despite concerted efforts, including the deployment of more security personnel and high-profile visits by military chiefs, no single terrorist has been arrested.
This response comes amid sharp criticism from a faction of the All Progressives Congress (APC) loyal to the Secretary to the Government of the Federation, George Akume. The faction accused Governor Alia of being overwhelmed by the escalating violence, pointing to recent attacks that claimed 42 lives as evidence of his failure.
In defense, Alia’s aide said the governor had been proactive, citing visits from the Chief of Army Staff, Chief of Naval Staff, and the National Security Adviser as signs of his engagement with the crisis. He also noted the provision of 300 motorcycles to security operatives to boost their mobility.
“What more do they expect from the governor?” Tersoo asked. “He has worked tirelessly. More security personnel have been deployed, yet, sadly, no terrorist has been arrested.”
The governor further urged the Akume-aligned APC faction to reflect on past administrations, particularly those of Akume himself and Samuel Ortom, which also grappled with deadly communal clashes and herdsmen invasions.
“This is not worse than what happened during Akume’s time, when people from Taraba and Nasarawa invaded Benue, or the series of attacks that plagued Ortom’s tenure,” Alia’s camp noted.
Earlier, Daniel Ihomun, spokesperson for the Austin Agada-led APC faction, slammed Alia’s administration for its handling of the latest massacre in Gwer West Local Government Area, where a police officer and 41 civilians were brutally killed.
“The latest massacre adds to the long list of unprovoked attacks on our defenseless people,” Ihomun said in a statement. “It is now crystal clear that Governor Hyacinth Alia’s administration lacks both the strategy and capacity to confront this crisis.”
The faction also criticized the Benue State House of Assembly for its “conspicuous silence,” noting that lawmakers went on recess despite the escalating violence.
“At a time when our state is engulfed in what amounts to genocide, there is absolutely no justification for legislative passivity. The Assembly’s silence is unacceptable,” Ihomun added.
The Akume faction called on President Bola Tinubu to urgently intervene by deploying additional security forces to the state, arguing that the current administration has exhausted all viable options.
“The state government has clearly run out of ideas and lacks the political will to confront this menace,” the group stated.
They also renewed their demand for an inclusive security summit involving stakeholders from across political lines, youth groups, religious and traditional leaders, and security agencies.
“Our people deserve to live without fear. We will not remain silent in the face of ongoing bloodshed and government inaction,” the faction concluded.
Stay tuned to Hobnob News for real-time updates on security developments across Benue State.
