Amid a rising wave of violence in Benue State, Governor Rev. Fr. Hyacinth Alia has called on the Federal Government for full support instead of declaring a state of emergency.
Speaking on Arise Television’s “The Morning Show,” on Wednesday, April 23, he stressed that his administration can restore peace, but requires additional resources and coordination from Abuja.
Alia recalled that the federal government had already provided two armoured tanks, which significantly improved security on the ground. “Our situation has changed for the better,” he said, “but we still need emergency assistance to drive out the armed invaders—killer herders who speak foreign languages and have no right here. Let them return to where they came from, so our farmers can safely return to their ancestral lands.”
Rejecting suggestions that the crisis is beyond his control, the governor pointed to the dramatic reduction in affected areas: “We’ve brought the number of local government areas under attack down from seventeen to six. That proves we can do this. What we need now is help—that’s a fact.”
Alia urged the Federal Government to focus on tangible support—troops, logistics, and intelligence rather than symbolic measures.
“What we need is absolute support,” he concluded. “Calling for a state of emergency won’t solve the problem—coordinated action will.”
