Abuja politicians behind Benue killings – Gov Alia

By Kingsley Chukwuka

The Governor of Benue State, Hyacinth Alia, has accused Benue Abuja based political office holders of being behind the killings in the State.

The Governor stated this on Friday during an interview on Channels Television.

He described the situation as “very unsettling”, noting that while the said politicians were interested in fighting for their position, it was his right to protect and serve the interests of the masses.

“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.

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is extremely unacceptable. If they do not love the lives of the people and they’re only fighting for their own position, I think I am serving the interest of the common masses and it is a concern to me, and it is my right to protect it,” the governor said.

Although he did not mention the names of any politicians who may be involved, Alia stated that he had set up a judicial panel to investigate the reasons behind the attacks, adding that the report indicted many big names and vowed to take up the matter when he receives the full report.

Responding, the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), asked the Governor, to name the politicians he said are behind the killings in the state.

In a statement on Saturday, the PDP accused the governor of engaging in a blame game over the killings.

The statement signed by its Publicity Secretary, Tim Nyor, described the Governor’s allegations as an attempt at political escapism which is not only irresponsible but also dangerously distracts from the urgent and substantive measures needed to address the crisis.

The party it views such reckless scapegoating by the Governor as deeply disheartening and counterproductive.

“It is important to note that Benue’s security challenges are not in isolation in Nigeria. Neighbouring states such as Plateau and Taraba face similar threats, yet their governments have shown a more responsible approach by acknowledging the security realities and taking proactive steps to address them.

“Conversely, Governor Alia’s focus has been on blame-shifting, alternating between accusing Abuja politicians, foreign invaders and other scapegoats, instead of confronting the root causes of insecurity.

“We must ask: Are attacks in Plateau, Enugu, Taraba, or elsewhere solely attributable to Abuja representatives? Or is Benue being unfairly singled out in a political witch-hunt?

“The truth remains that herdsmen attacks in Benue predate Governor Alia’s administration, just as they did during the tenures of former governors Samuel Ortom and Gabriel Suswam”.

According to the PDP, previous administrations recognized the threat and called it by its name – attacks by armed herdsmen – without resorting to reckless blame-shifting.

The party noted that it is disconcerting that logic and reason seem to be absent from the Alia administration’s approach to insecurity.

“Instead of addressing the fundamental issues, the governor’s rhetoric is marred by distractions, false accusations, and propaganda.

“Benue’s security challenges must not be dismissed or sacrificed on the altar of political expediency.

“To insinuate or outrightly claim that Abuja representatives are sponsors of herdsmen terrorism is not only irresponsible but a dangerous misdiagnosis of the problem,” the statement added.