Governor Hyacinth Alia of Benue State has supported President Bola Tinubu's assessment that the ongoing attacks in parts of Benue State are likely reprisal attacks carried out by suspected armed herders who infiltrate through established routes from neighboring Nasarawa State.
In a recent interview with Channels Television, Governor Alia addressed the security situation, confirming that the attackers operate from outside Benue but have established hideouts within Nasarawa territory.
"When you come to the Nasarawa axis, that is where we are having the challenges. Yes, we've confirmed that a number of them are hiding within Nasarawa State," he stated.
Strategic Movement of Attackers
The Governor explained that the armed groups utilize well-known routes to move in and out of Benue, particularly when they are forced to relocate from other areas. "So, anytime they are driven out from one area, they simply shift to another. What we're witnessing today, if someone describes it as reprisal attacks, we wouldn't entirely disagree," Alia remarked.
This statement aligns with President Tinubu's Sunday comment characterizing the attacks in Benue as reprisals, which had drawn various reactions across the country.
Cross-Border Collaboration
Governor Alia revealed he has been in communication with his Nasarawa counterpart to coordinate security efforts. "I spoke with the Governor of Nasarawa to see how we could synergize. I wanted to know if he had access to any fresh intelligence that we might not have here in Benue, which we could act upon," he said.
According to Alia, the Nasarawa Governor confirmed that terrorists had indeed passed through his territory to launch attacks in Yelewata, Benue State. "He told me he had received information that the terrorists had passed through his territory, entered Yelewata to launch the attack. He also said that one woman was attacked and macheted in Nasarawa State," Alia added.
The ongoing violence in Benue has raised concerns about the effectiveness of security measures in the region and the need for enhanced interstate cooperation to address the persistent threats posed by armed groups.
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