Nobel Laureate Prof. Wole Soyinka has advised Nigerian authorities to be cautious in embracing foreign intervention, warning that external involvement could further complicate the country’s worsening security situation.

Soyinka gave the caution on Friday during a media briefing at the Government House, Makurdi, shortly after a private meeting with Governor Hyacinth Alia, which formed part of his visit to Benue State.

The internationally acclaimed writer praised Alia for the developmental projects underway in the state but recalled that Benue had become a haven for terrorists under the previous federal administration.

He faulted former President Muhammadu Buhari for failing to curb the killings in the state, noting that he was among the few who consistently challenged the administration at the time.

Soyinka said his visit also included a follow-up on educational materials he previously donated for displaced children.

He inspected several ongoing projects in Makurdi and visited internally displaced persons (IDP) camps, where he sympathised with affected families.

Governor Alia, while addressing journalists, dismissed claims that he denied the killings in the state.

He insisted that his comments were misinterpreted and taken out of context.

He stressed that discussions about genocide must align with the United Nations’ definition and historical framework, noting that the term is often misused in public discourse.

According to him, his remark that attackers were executing their plans “religiously” was misunderstood and was meant only to describe consistency and determination, not religious motivation.

“I have never denied that our people were killed,” he said.

“We have bandits and terrorists who are organised and determined to destroy, maim, and kill. I have repeatedly, yes, religiously  stated that their aim is land grabbing, not religion.”

Alia explained that the crisis in Benue originated from farmer–herder clashes but later evolved into full-blown banditry and terrorism, affecting people across different ethnic and religious backgrounds.

He warned against pushing narratives that falsely portray the violence as religiously driven.

The governor also urged journalists to avoid politicising the tragedy, advising them to seek clarification when issues arise rather than amplifying misinterpretations.

“You are not weapons of mass destruction,” he told reporters.

“One phone call for clarification can prevent confusion and unnecessary tension.”

Alia emphasised that every life lost deeply concerns his administration and called on the public to avoid trivialising the suffering of displaced persons.

He said the scale of displacement in Benue underscores the severity of the attacks, which have forced many communities from their ancestral homes.

On infrastructure, the governor disclosed that contracts for major arterial roads in Makurdi had already been awarded.

Full construction, he said, would commence next week following the completion of preliminary work.

Alia commended Prof. Soyinka for his sustained interest in the welfare of the people of Benue and for taking time to visit the state to assess ongoing developments.

Nobel Laureate Prof. Wole Soyinka has advised Nigerian authorities to be cautious in embracing foreign intervention, warning that external involvement could further complicate the country’s worsening security situation.

Soyinka gave the caution on Friday during a media briefing at the Government House, Makurdi, shortly after a private meeting with Governor Hyacinth Alia, which formed part of his visit to Benue State.

The internationally acclaimed writer praised Alia for the developmental projects underway in the state but recalled that Benue had become a haven for terrorists under the previous federal administration.

He faulted former President Muhammadu Buhari for failing to curb the killings in the state, noting that he was among the few who consistently challenged the administration at the time.

Soyinka said his visit also included a follow-up on educational materials he previously donated for displaced children.

He inspected several ongoing projects in Makurdi and visited internally displaced persons (IDP) camps, where he sympathised with affected families.

Governor Alia, while addressing journalists, dismissed claims that he denied the killings in the state.

He insisted that his comments were misinterpreted and taken out of context.

He stressed that discussions about genocide must align with the United Nations’ definition and historical framework, noting that the term is often misused in public discourse.

According to him, his remark that attackers were executing their plans “religiously” was misunderstood and was meant only to describe consistency and determination, not religious motivation.

“I have never denied that our people were killed,” he said.

“We have bandits and terrorists who are organised and determined to destroy, maim, and kill. I have repeatedly, yes, religiously  stated that their aim is land grabbing, not religion.”

Alia explained that the crisis in Benue originated from farmer–herder clashes but later evolved into full-blown banditry and terrorism, affecting people across different ethnic and religious backgrounds.

He warned against pushing narratives that falsely portray the violence as religiously driven.

The governor also urged journalists to avoid politicising the tragedy, advising them to seek clarification when issues arise rather than amplifying misinterpretations.

“You are not weapons of mass destruction,” he told reporters.

“One phone call for clarification can prevent confusion and unnecessary tension.”

Alia emphasised that every life lost deeply concerns his administration and called on the public to avoid trivialising the suffering of displaced persons.

He said the scale of displacement in Benue underscores the severity of the attacks, which have forced many communities from their ancestral homes.

On infrastructure, the governor disclosed that contracts for major arterial roads in Makurdi had already been awarded.

Full construction, he said, would commence next week following the completion of preliminary work.

Alia commended Prof. Soyinka for his sustained interest in the welfare of the people of Benue and for taking time to visit the state to assess ongoing developments.

The Edo State Police Command has arraigned a 24-year-old TikToker, Osarobo Omoyemen, popularly known online as “Madam Oil Rice,” for allegedly staging her own kidnapping to boost traffic and gain followers on her social media page.

According to police reports, Omoyemen released a viral video claiming she had been abducted along Upper Sakponba Road in Benin City and later rescued by officers who allegedly detained her at Akpata Police Station and extorted ₦10,000 as bail.

The video also featured a background voice urging viewers to follow her TikTok page—an element police say was key to uncovering her motive.

Police spokesperson CSP Moses Yamu said investigators reviewed the video and found inconsistencies, prompting a deeper probe that revealed the story was entirely fabricated.

“During interrogation, the suspect confessed to orchestrating the incident to drive online traffic and attract more followers,” Yamu said.

He described the act as dangerous misinformation capable of inciting public hostility toward the police and causing needless tension in the state.

He also noted that Omoyemen deleted an earlier version of her video where an accomplice was heard encouraging viewers to follow her page, further confirming the deliberate nature of the stunt.

The TikToker has since been arrested and charged to court, while police say efforts are underway to track down and prosecute her accomplices.

The Command warned the public against spreading false information or creating content that could compromise peace and security in the state.

In the wake of last Tuesday’s deadly bandit attack on church worshippers in Eruku, Ekiti Local Government Area of Kwara State, security agencies have arrested several individuals allegedly linked to aiding bandit operations across the state.

Among those apprehended is a man from Makurdi, Benue State, who reportedly specialised in repairing and preparing weapons for bandit groups.

The Commissioner of Police in Kwara State, Adekimi Ojo, revealed these developments while briefing journalists at the police headquarters in Ilorin.

His address followed a State Security Council meeting held at the Government House.

According to Ojo, intelligence gathered after the Eruku attack prompted intensified joint operations involving the Police, Military, and Department of State Services (DSS).

These efforts, he said, align with directives issued by President Bola Ahmed Tinubu to strengthen security across vulnerable regions.

He commended the Inspector General of Police, Kayode Egbetokun, for deploying four specialised tactical units, SWAT, the Intelligence Response Team (IRT), the Special Intervention Squad (SIS), and the Special Tactical Squads (STS), to combat further threats in the state.

Ojo disclosed that the recent meeting “harvested valuable insights from field commanders on ongoing rescue efforts, intelligence gathering, and the pursuit of those responsible for the Eruku attack.”

He added that increased air surveillance and interdictions had forced bandits out of several hideouts, particularly in Ifelodun.

The council called for continued aerial raids on locations identified as criminal camps.

“The Police and DSS have recorded several arrests, including individuals supplying food and fuel to the bandits, as well as the Makurdi man who confessed to servicing the criminals’ weapons,” he said.

The State Security Council also endorsed the government’s recent security measures around schools, especially in communities considered high-risk.

It encouraged citizens to remain vigilant and report suspicious movements promptly.

Ojo further warned about the destabilising role of social media, accusing some users of circulating unverified information that compromises security operations.

For public safety, he urged residents to avoid late-night farming or social activities that could leave them vulnerable to attacks.

Traditional rulers and community leaders were also encouraged to support intelligence sharing with security agencies.

The meeting observed a minute of silence in honour of victims of the Eruku Christ Apostolic Church attack and extended condolences to affected families.