Benue State Governor, Hyacinth Alia has declared that his state is ‘under attack’ as deadly attacks continue to escalate across the region.
Speaking after Mass at the Chapel of Grace, Government House in Makurdi on Sunday, Alia urged residents to stay alert and report any suspicious activity to security agencies.
“If you hear something, say something…it will enable security agents to respond swiftly and repel the invaders.” he said.
The governor described the violence as organized and targeted, accusing armed groups of a calculated effort to displace communities and seize their ancestral lands.
“We are under siege as a state. We are under attack. And those who are attacking us must have a face, must have an aim, and must have a drive. They come, they drag people out, they kill to occupy. This is extremely unacceptable,” Alia said.
ALSO READ
He also warned politicians he believes are exploiting the unrest for personal gain.
“I invite you politicians to steer clear. Don’t be part of those attacking us. We have some machinery in place to dig deeper, to let us know who is a culprit, who is involved in the destruction of our state.”
The APC governor stressed that his government will not tolerate terrorism of any kind.
Despite the crisis, he called on residents not to give in to despair, pledging his administration’s commitment to restoring peace.
The cleric also asked the public to pray for those killed in recent attacks during the Holy Week.
His comments come as communities across Benue continue to face deadly raids, forcing mass displacement and increasing fears over the state’s security breakdown.
