Benue Declares Emergency as Governor Alia Vows Justice for Massacre Victims
Benue State Governor Hyacinth Alia has declared a security emergency and launched a stern offensive against those behind the recent wave of killings that have left the state reeling in grief and anger. In a broadcast that echoed both sorrow and resolve, the governor addressed the people of Benue in the aftermath of what has now been described as one of the deadliest massacres in the state’s recent history—the Yelewata attack, where over 200 people were brutally killed by gunmen reportedly disguised as herders.
Speaking with a mixture of fury and conviction, Governor Alia declared that the time of passive defence was over, warning the perpetrators in unequivocal terms: “We will find you. We will expose you. And we will deal with you with the full force of the law.” According to local reports, entire households in Guma Local Government Area were wiped out overnight in the massacre, which came just 48 hours after another deadly assault in which 25 people were killed in coordinated attacks on Mtswenem and Akondotyough Bawa in Makurdi LGA.
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Determined to change the narrative of unending bloodshed, the governor vowed to take the battle to the hideouts of those terrorising Benue communities, stressing that the state would no longer sit back and wait to be attacked before taking action. With the backing of President Bola Tinubu, he announced that the full enforcement of the state’s Anti-Open Grazing and Ranches Establishment Law would resume immediately. The law, which bans open grazing across the state, has been a centrepiece of Benue’s efforts to resolve the long-standing farmer-herder conflict. Alia warned that violators would face direct and immediate consequences, as security agencies have now been directed to intensify surveillance and protection in all vulnerable border communities.
Reinforcements are being deployed from both the military and the police, with tactical units tasked with strengthening joint operations and reviving community-based intelligence networks to prevent further attacks. As part of a broader push for national attention, Governor Alia confirmed that he had formally requested an urgent one-on-one meeting with President Tinubu to press for swift federal intervention and to present the state’s case directly to the highest office. “Benue has carried this burden for far too long,” he said, his voice firm with emotion.
In a call for unity beyond politics, the governor urged all Benue people to set aside party affiliations and ethnic sentiments, insisting that the time had come for a collective response to what he described as a shared tragedy. “We are not APC or PDP… We are Benue people under attack,” he said. To this end, he has convened an emergency summit in Makurdi to include the Secretary to the Government of the Federation, National Assembly members from the state, traditional rulers, religious leaders, and top security officials. The summit is expected to chart an immediate and coordinated course of action.
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The governor also directed the Benue State Emergency Management Agency to begin relocating displaced persons to the Makurdi International Market, which has now been converted into a temporary shelter. Relief supplies and essential support will be provided as part of the government’s emergency humanitarian response. Addressing the state’s young population, whose widespread protests and social media campaigns have brought global attention to the Benue killings, Alia acknowledged their voices and urged restraint and responsibility. “Continue to be alert, not lawless. Be courageous, but coordinated,” he advised, calling for vigilance without resorting to self-help.
The governor also paid tribute to the security operatives who lost their lives in the line of duty, including two soldiers and one Nigeria Security and Civil Defence Corps officer who were killed during the Yelewata attack. To honour their sacrifice, the government announced the launch of a state-backed life insurance scheme for all security personnel killed or wounded in the course of duty, retroactively effective from 29 May 2023.
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Governor Alia closed his address with a defiant declaration of resilience and solidarity. “We are Benue. We are not broken. We are rising.” As families bury their loved ones and communities begin to count their losses, the mood across the state remains tense but determined. With a grieving population, a mobilised security apparatus, and renewed political urgency, Benue is entering a new phase in its long struggle for safety, justice, and peace