Governor Hyacinth Alia of Benue State has revealed details of a private meeting held with President Bola Tinubu and the Secretary to the Government of the Federation (SGF), George Akume, as part of efforts to address the protracted violence in the state.
Speaking during an appearance on The Morning Brief, a programme on Channels Television, Governor Alia said the meeting was convened by President Tinubu to explore a political solution aimed at ending the ongoing killings in Benue.
Benue, located in Nigeria’s North-Central region and known for its agricultural production, has been plagued by relentless attacks, allegedly carried out by suspected herdsmen.
Over the past few weeks alone, more than 160 residents have reportedly lost their lives in a string of deadly incidents.
During the programme, Governor Alia stressed the need for multifaceted strategies to resolve the crisis.
“We have a complex situation that is primarily being sponsored from somewhere, being remote-controlled from somewhere,” he said.
“We would be able to contain the intra-local government and the intra-local government crises in the state. The problem here is the externals who come in armed with their AK-47 and their AK-49.”
He expressed support for the president’s call for dialogue and reconciliation among the affected communities.
“I think the president is not wrong to have said that we should find a common ground for reconciliation,” Alia said.
“He had invited the SGF and myself because of what he was hearing out there in the public. He tried to find out whether there were some differences between us.”
Amid reports of a rift between Alia and SGF Akume, both key figures in the All Progressives Congress (APC) in Benue, the governor clarified the nature of their relationship.
“The SGF himself said there were no differences between us. If they were, going forward, there would be no anxiety at all. So, the traditional institutions should go to their beds with eyes closed,” he added.
Governor Alia also dismissed claims that the Federal Government had abandoned the state in its time of need.
“If he (President Bola Tinubu) didn’t have an understanding of what is going on, he won’t be giving us full support,” he said.
Highlighting progress made through federal assistance, he continued:
“Seventeen local governments out of 23 were under siege and then we fought it down to nine local governments. We fought it down to six and now to three. It came down because of the full support we got from the Federal Government.”
The governor’s comments come amid rising tensions in Benue, where public protests have erupted over the killings and security situation.
The state continues to grapple with deep-seated conflicts between farmers and herders, as well as concerns about external influences exacerbating the crisis.
