The Zone "A" Peoples' Assembly (ZAPA) has called on Benue State Governor, Rev. Fr. Hyacinth Alia, to declare a state of emergency on security following a resurgence of deadly attacks across multiple communities in the state.
During a press conference held in Makurdi on Sunday, ZAPA President, Mr. Fanen Mondo, expressed grave concern over what he described as "brutal, coordinated assaults" by armed herders, some of whom he alleged are foreign mercenaries.
The attacks have reportedly affected several communities including Chito in Ukum, Tor Donga in Katsina-Ala, Turan in Kwande, Aôndoana in Gwer West, Yelwata in Guma, as well as areas in Apa and Agatu local government areas.
"We Don't Need a Silent Governor"
Mondo criticized what he perceived as the governor's silence on the security crisis, urging him to not only declare an emergency but to personally lead the security response and engage the Federal Government on the deteriorating situation.
"In all these places, what connects them is not just the bloodshed and destruction. It is the silence — silence from those in positions of power who should act and speak," Mondo stated during the briefing.
The ZAPA president further emphasized that political silence and inaction from state leaders amounts to complicity in the ongoing violence. "This silence is not neutrality; it is complicity. And the people of Benue see it for what it is," he added.
Call for Federal Intervention
The assembly also appealed to President Bola Ahmed Tinubu to remember the support he received from Benue voters during the 2023 elections. They called for urgent federal intervention, including the deployment of military forces and emergency humanitarian aid to affected communities.
"We don't need a silent governor; we need a field commander who will defend our ancestral lands," Mondo concluded, emphasizing the need for decisive leadership in the face of the security challenges.
The recent attacks come amid growing concerns about the broader implications of the Benue crisis, with some observers describing it as a threat to national security that requires immediate attention from both state and federal authorities.
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