Benue governor Alia attributes recent attacks to foreign militants, not local herders

Benue State Governor, Reverend Father Hyacinth Alia, has blamed recent violent attacks on foreign militants, not Nigerian herders.

As gathered by Diaspora Digital Media (DDM), Governor Alia said there is a wrong narrative about who the attackers really are.

Alia, a Catholic priest-turned-politician, won the 2023 governorship election under the platform of the All Progressives Congress (APC).

He emphasized that Nigerians can easily recognize their own ethnic groups, including the Hausa and Fulani people.

According to Alia, the attackers currently causing havoc across Benue do not exhibit the traits of Nigerian herders.

He stated that traditional herders usually walk with cattle, armed only with sticks or, at most, simple machetes.

However, he pointed out that the current assailants are heavily armed with sophisticated weapons like AK-47 and AK-49 rifles.

“These people do not resemble Nigerians, and they do not speak the languages commonly spoken in our communities,” he said.

Governor Alia stressed that the attackers speak a different form of Hausa that is not the typical Nigerian version.

He noted that even among the Fulani, the attackers’ language is noticeably different from what Nigerians are accustomed to.

Local residents, according to Alia, have identified these militants as foreigners, particularly from Mali and other neighboring countries.

“This is not the face of Nigerian herders,” the governor emphasized during the interview.

He explained that the security threat in Benue has evolved from initial clashes with traditional herders to full-blown terrorist attacks.

“Initially, we had issues with traditional herders, but those conflicts were far less violent than what we face now,” he added.

Governor Alia said the current attackers are more organized, heavily armed, and far more brutal than traditional herders.

Since taking office, Alia has promised to address insecurity, promote agriculture, and drive infrastructure development across Benue State.

He defeated former Governor Samuel Ortom’s party in a historic shift from the opposition People’s Democratic Party (PDP) to the APC.

Alia’s campaign emphasized “renewed hope” for citizens, particularly in tackling the persistent violence and restoring peace in Benue.

Despite efforts, insecurity remains a serious challenge, prompting calls for stronger measures to protect communities and displaced persons.

Governor Alia’s claims are likely to stir debates about border security and foreign infiltration across Nigeria’s troubled Middle Belt.

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