Benue State Governor, Hyacinth Alia, has raised alarm over the deteriorating security situation in the state, declaring that Benue is currently "under siege" from terrorists and bandits.
Speaking during a television interview on Friday, Governor Alia emphasized that the recent wave of attacks claiming numerous lives across the state goes beyond the traditional herders-farmers clashes that have historically affected the region.
Coordinated Terrorist Attacks
"We are under siege. The way these attacks come and the intel we receive, it is a directed calibrated plan and then executed," the governor stated during the interview.
He revealed that intelligence reports received by his administration have proven to be 60-65 percent accurate, painting a disturbing picture of organized violence rather than spontaneous conflicts.
"When you realise what is going on, it is beyond just conflict, it is beyond just an ethnic fight between herders and farmers in our state, it is directed, it is planned and then it is executed, it is some terrorism," Alia emphasized.
Guerrilla Warfare Tactics
The Catholic priest-turned-politician described the attacks as a form of guerrilla warfare conducted by specialized killers. According to him, the perpetrators operate with concerning precision, striking at night and disappearing without a trace, making it nearly impossible to apprehend them.
"For some reason, none of the killers was ever caught. They come in the thick of the night, hit, run, and nobody sees a trace," the governor lamented.
Recent Attacks
BenriNews reports that several persons were feared dead and many others injured on Friday evening after suspected armed attackers launched a fresh assault on the Makurdi–Naka road.
This attack is part of a surge in violence that has affected several local government areas in Benue State in recent weeks, resulting in significant loss of life and displacement of communities.
The governor's statements highlight the evolving nature of insecurity in Benue State, which has been a flashpoint for violence in Nigeria's Middle Belt region for years.
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