Gov Alia blames villagers for attacks on Benue communities

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Governor Hyacinth Alia of Benue State has voiced renewed alarm over the persistent violence across several parts of the state, suggesting that some local residents might be assisting the attackers.

Speaking during an appearance on Channels Television, Alia referred to the ongoing violence as “carnage” and highlighted troubling signs of internal complicity.

He said, “What we are observing is a pattern, a simple but disturbing equation. A thief does not break into a community unless someone from within shows him the way,” he said.

The governor condemned the unrelenting bloodshed, explaining that while the crisis initially took root in areas such as Makurdi and Guma, it has since expanded both in scope and intensity.

“When we came into governance in 2023, 17 local governments were in the frontlines. We fought hard and brought it down to nine, then six. But the attacks have resurged,” he revealed.

Alia listed several of the worst-hit local government areas, including Gwer West, Logo, Ukum, Katsina-Ala, Apa, Agatu, and Guma—some of which had previously enjoyed a period of relative calm.

“Guma had peace for over a year. People returned home, farmed and had a good harvest. But this farming season, the attacks have resumed, with a new face,” Alia said.

He added that the nature of the conflict has changed, noting that what was once seen largely as a farmer-herder dispute has now taken on a more complex and dangerous form.

“They no longer bring cattle. These are not regular herders. What we now see are armed men carrying AK-47s and AK-49s. They come to attack, to kill and soon after, others move in to occupy the land.

“Benue shares borders with Cameroon, Taraba and Nasarawa. Some of these attacks are said to originate from the Cameroon axis. The attackers do not speak the Hausa or Fulani we know. Their language is unfamiliar.”

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