Armed Herders Behind Fresh Attacks in Benue – Governor Alia
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| Governor Hyacinth Alia |
Governor Hyacinth Alia of Benue State has blamed the recent mass killings in Yelwata, Guma Local Government Area, on armed herders, warning that the nature of the conflict in the state has escalated beyond the traditional farmer-herder clashes.
Speaking during an appearance on Channels Television on Monday, Governor Alia provided insight into the identity of the attackers who claimed the lives of over 100 people in a brutal invasion of the community.
The tragic assault sparked outrage, prompting youths in Yelwata to block the Lafia-Makurdi highway in protest. Demonstrations later spread to Makurdi, the state capital, where police used teargas to disperse protesters.
Attackers Armed With Assault Rifles, Not Cattle
Governor Alia said the attackers were not regular herders, but armed assailants carrying AK-47 and AK-49 rifles, arriving in the state without livestock—an indication that their mission was not grazing, but violence and displacement.
“These are not just herders. They arrive with no cows but with guns. They attack, kill, and then, within a week, others return to settle in the attacked communities,” Alia explained.
Infiltration by Terrorists and Bandits
The governor warned that the situation has evolved into something more dangerous, stating that terrorists and bandits have now hijacked the herder-farmer crisis, turning it into a broader security threat.
“This is no longer just a herder-farmer issue. It has been hijacked by armed criminals. What we now face are organized armed herders and infiltrating terrorists,” he said.
He also suggested that some of the attacks may be carried out with internal support, noting that such organized violence likely involves local collaborators.
“A thief doesn’t attack a community unless someone within leads them in,” Alia said, implying that insiders may be aiding the attackers.
Growing Threat Ahead of Farming Season
Alia noted that many farmers had returned to their communities last year and recorded good harvests, but the renewed violence this season has forced many to abandon their farmlands once again, threatening food security and livelihoods.
“Just when our people resumed farming, the attacks returned,” he lamented.
The governor’s remarks underscore growing concerns that Benue’s long-standing security crisis is deepening, with implications for regional stability, agriculture, and humanitarian conditions.
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