Governor Hyacinth Alia addressed a meeting aimed at establishing a truce with President Bola Tinubu and the Secretary to the Government of the Federation (SGF), George Akume, on Monday.
During his appearance the governor stated that the President organized the meeting as part of a political initiative to put an end to the horrific killings occurring in the state.
Benue, a key agricultural region in Nigeria’s North-Central zone, has faced severe assaults from suspected herdsmen for an extended period. These killings have persisted for years, with some attributing them to inter-communal disputes and the struggle for land control between the indigenous farming population and nomadic cattle herders.
Nevertheless, the recent weeks have seen a continuous wave of violence. Reports confirm that over 160 residents have been killed in a series of attacks by suspected herdsmen who have caused destruction across various communities in the state.
On Sunday, the President tasked the governor with organizing reconciliation meetings and dialogues among the conflicting parties to halt the ongoing bloodshed and foster enduring peace and harmonious coexistence among farmers, herders, and local communities.
There have been indications of a perceived rivalry between Alia and Akume, a former governor of the state, regarding the control of the All Progressives Congress (APC) structure within the state. Both Alia and Akume are affiliated with the ruling party.
On Monday, Alia emphasized the necessity of addressing the crisis through various approaches, including reconciliation efforts.
He remarked, “We are dealing with a complex situation that is primarily being orchestrated from an external source, being remotely controlled from somewhere.
“We are capable of managing the intra-local government and the crises affecting the intra-local government within the state.
The issue at hand involves external individuals who arrive armed with their AK-47 and AK-49 rifles.
I believe the president is justified in suggesting that we seek a common ground for reconciliation.
He had extended an invitation to the SGF and myself due to the information he was receiving from the public. He aimed to ascertain whether any differences existed between us.
The SGF himself confirmed that there were no differences between us. If there had been, moving forward, there would be no cause for concern. Therefore, the traditional institutions should rest peacefully at night.
Alia also dismissed allegations that the Federal Government has failed to assist the people of Benue State in defending themselves against ruthless, bloodthirsty marauders.
“If he (President Bola Tinubu) were unaware of the situation, he would not be providing us with full support,” the governor stated.
“Seventeen out of 23 local governments were under siege, and we managed to reduce that number to nine local governments. We further decreased it to six and now down to three. This reduction occurred due to the comprehensive support we received from the Federal Government.”
