Surge in Deadly Violence Forces Governor to Declare State Under Coordinated Terrorist Assault
Benue State Governor Hyacinth Alia has raised the alarm over escalating violence in the state, declaring that terrorists—not just herders—are behind the deadly attacks that have left dozens dead in recent weeks.
Speaking in an emotional interview on Channels Television’s Politics Today on Friday, the governor revealed that intelligence reports indicate a calculated campaign of violence, dismissing the notion that the crisis is merely a conflict between farmers and herders.
“We are under siege,” Alia said. “The way these attacks come and the intel we receive—it’s a directed, calibrated plan, and then executed. On a daily basis, we get these reports, and 60 to 65% of them turn out to be accurate.”
The governor, a former Catholic priest turned politician, described the attackers as “specialized killers” who operate like guerrilla fighters—striking under cover of darkness, leaving no trace, and evading capture.
Fresh Attack Claims More Lives
The governor’s warning came just hours before suspected armed herdsmen launched another deadly assault along the Makurdi–Naka road on Friday evening, leaving multiple people feared dead and many others injured.
The latest attack adds to a wave of violence that has gripped several local government areas in Benue, with communities facing relentless raids that have displaced thousands and destroyed livelihoods.
“This Is Terrorism, Not Just Conflict”
Governor Alia stressed that the situation has evolved beyond traditional herder-farmer clashes, calling it outright terrorism.
“It is beyond just an ethnic fight between herders and farmers in our state,” he said. “It is directed, it is planned, and then it is executed. This is some terrorism.”
Despite security efforts, the attackers continue to evade capture, leaving residents in constant fear. The governor’s stark admission highlights the growing frustration over the inability to curb the bloodshed.
Calls for Stronger Federal Intervention
With Benue’s security forces stretched thin, Alia’s declaration puts pressure on the federal government to intensify counter-terrorism operations in the region.
As nightfall brings fresh dread to vulnerable villages, many in Benue are left wondering when—or if—the siege will ever end.
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