Benue State has become a blood-soaked battleground in 2024, with over 3,000 people killed in violent attacks by Fulani herders under Governor Hyacinth Alia’s watch.
According to the Alliance for Truth and Justice (ATJ), the once-thriving agricultural region is now a killing field, with herders seemingly in full control of large parts of the state and the government accused of doing little to prevent the carnage.
Since Alia assumed office in 2023, reports of massacres, kidnappings, and mass displacement have flooded the state.
As of July 2023, the United Nations confirmed that 2.1 million people in Benue had been displaced due to the ongoing violence, with the humanitarian crisis surpassing that of the conflict-ridden Northeast.
Yet, despite millions of displaced persons and a wave of bloodshed, Governor Alia’s actions have been perceived as insufficient, with his primary focus on securing funds rather than addressing the crisis.
Amnesty International, in a June 2024 report, revealed that over 2,600 people have been killed and at least 135 attacks have occurred in over 50 communities across the state in Alia’s first year in office.
The violence is largely attributed to Fulani herders, who have not only attacked villages but also imposed their control over local populations.
Indigenous farmers are now forced to pay to access their farms, and the herders have established their leadership structures in these areas.
AFRIPOST gathered that Governor Alia’s response has been widely criticized. He has consistently downplayed the severity of the situation, calling it “relative peace” despite the ongoing attacks.
Rather than visiting affected areas or mobilizing security forces, Alia has largely remained absent, with the only public appearances involving his travels by private jet.
His statements often absolve the herders, blaming local communities for cattle rustling, a claim that many see as an excuse for inaction.
Alliance for Truth and Justice (ATJ) released a timeline of the violence and revealed the grim scale of the crisis. Notable incidents include:
- October 30, 2023: Five killed in Tse Gamber, Gwer-West.
- February 1, 2024: Multiple deaths in Ugboju, Agatu.
- February 12, 2024: Thirteen killed in Adoka, Otukpo.
- March 7, 2024: Seventeen killed in Wa-ndoo, Gwer-East.
- April 29, 2024: Ten killed in Agatu and Gwer East.
- October 29, 2024: Three killed in Tse Gamber, Sengev.
The attacks have continued unabated, with November 24, 2024, marking the latest tragedy in the Azege settlement, Logo LGA, where thirteen lives were lost.
Governor Alia’s failure to act has left Benue’s citizens in despair, with many questioning his loyalty to the people he swore to protect.
The displacement crisis continues, and many are forced to live in camps or with relatives, as the governor’s promises to return the displaced to their homes within the first 100 days of his administration remain unfulfilled.
As the violence rages on, it is clear that Benue’s leadership has failed its people. The Alia administration is now facing intense scrutiny, as the death toll rises and the people of Benue continue to suffer in silence.