Benue State Governor, Rev. Father Hyacinth Alia, has sounded a grave alarm over what he describes as a full-scale siege on the state by increasingly sophisticated and violent armed groups, whom he says are no longer merely herders but foreign-backed insurgents aiming for territorial occupation.
In an interview on Wednesday, Governor Alia described the current wave of violence as a “new phase” in the long-standing conflict between farmers and herders in the region.
“The appropriate captivating way to speak on what we are undergoing is that we are under siege. What we experience is the armed herders come in, before no, they could just come in with their herds and then to the isolated local governments and then do the attacks and then the people settle down.”
According to Alia, unlike previous attacks which involved herders moving cattle through isolated communities, the latest assailants come without livestock, but heavily armed with AK-47 and AK-49 rifles.
“They come in alone, Wear one dress and stay in the bushes as long as they can, until they do the attacks and then they disappear. After a week or two, then they come in with their folks to occupy those spaces. These attacks are very deliberate and calculated. They come in, attack, fully with the intent of killing and then occupation,” he added.
The governor alleged that these attackers do not speak any known Nigerian languages and “don’t even look like Nigerians,” indicating the possible involvement of foreign mercenaries or extremist elements.
“The attacks we have experienced are very deliberate and so calculated with the aim to come, kill and landgrab.”
Alia revealed that the state government had invested heavily in security, purchasing 100 Hilux trucks and 600 motorbikes distributed among various security agencies and a revitalised joint task force. However, he admitted that the scale of the threat had overwhelmed their current capabilities.
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What we need is an emergency of help, now. We can’t go to the farm. There is less we can do. Our people want to take all this up themselves—to defend themselves.”
The governor said that upon assuming office a year and nine months ago, almost all 23 local government areas in Benue were under attack. Through intensified efforts, the violence was reduced to nine critical LGAs. “Now, six of those are in the frontline again,” he said.
Alia also criticised unnamed political actors who he claimed were trying to exploit the crisis for personal or political gain. “They don’t even come to the fields. They stay wherever they stay and put a spin on it. The reality is that our people are being killed.”
Calling for stronger intelligence efforts, Alia urged security agencies to unmask those aiding and abetting the attackers. “Once they bring this out, we are going to publish,” he warned.
Arise News
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