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 carrying out coordinated attacks across multiple communities.
Speaking during an interview on Channels Television's Politics Today on Friday, Governor Alia emphasized that the recent wave of violence goes far beyond the traditional narrative of herders-farmers clashes, revealing a more sinister pattern of organized terrorism.
"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. "On a daily basis we are receiving those intel. Of late, each of those intel we receive, 60 to 65 per cent of it is quite accurate."
Coordinated Terrorist Activities
The Catholic priest-turned-politician revealed that the attacks demonstrate clear patterns of professional planning and execution, suggesting a level of organization beyond 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," he explained.
Governor Alia noted that the perpetrators employ guerrilla warfare tactics, striking communities at night and disappearing without a trace, making it nearly impossible to apprehend them. "For some reason, none of the killers was ever caught," he said, adding that "they come in the thick of the night, hit, run and nobody sees a trace."
BenriNews reports that several local government areas in Benue have experienced violent attacks in recent weeks, resulting in numerous casualties and displacements. The situation has continued to deteriorate, with a fresh attack reported on Friday evening along the Makurdi–Naka road, where several persons were feared dead and many others injured after suspected armed assailants launched an assault.
Rising Death Toll
The recent surge in attacks has created a humanitarian crisis in several communities across Benue State. Local sources indicate that the frequency and coordination of these attacks have increased significantly in recent months, overwhelming security agencies' response capabilities.
The governor's statements come amid growing calls for more decisive federal intervention to address the security challenges in the state, which have disrupted agricultural activities and displaced thousands of residents from their ancestral homes.
As the security situation continues to deteriorate, Governor Alia has reportedly ordered immediate military action in the most affected areas, including Apa and Gwer West local government areas, insisting that "Benue communities are not killing fields."
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