“We Need Help, Not a State of Emergency” – Governor Alia Appeals to FG Over Benue Killings

Benue State Governor, Reverend Father Hyacinth Alia, has appealed to the Federal Government for immediate assistance to combat the ongoing wave of violence in the state, stating that what Benue needs is support, not the declaration of a state of emergency.

Speaking during an interview on Arise Television’s “The Morning Show” on Wednesday, Governor Alia emphasized that the security situation in Benue is within his administration’s control, but reinforced that federal support is crucial to effectively push back the armed herders responsible for the killings and displacement of communities.

“We need emergency help for now. We need absolute support,” the governor said, commending the recent deployment of two armoured tanks by the Federal Government, which he noted had already improved the situation. He stressed the need to drive out the armed invaders, many of whom he claimed do not speak any known Nigerian language, and restore displaced farmers to their ancestral lands.

Governor Alia dismissed suggestions that the state’s security challenges were beyond his capacity, pointing out that the number of local government areas affected by the violence has been significantly reduced from 17 to six. This, he argued, is evidence that the state government has the ability to address the crisis but requires greater federal backing to complete the task.

“We couldn’t have trimmed it from 17 local governments in the front lines of the attacks to nine and then now to six, which means we have the capability to do this, but we need help. And that is a fact,” he said.