The Benue Advocacy Network (BAN) has called on Governor Hyacinth Alia’s administration to explain its failure to enforce the state’s Open Grazing Prohibition and Ranches Establishment Law, accusing the government of allowing armed herdsmen to invade communities and kill local farmers without consequences.
During a press briefing in Makurdi over the weekend, BAN President, Enoch Ortese, accompanied by other members, criticized the governor’s recent media appearance, stating that it failed to address key concerns raised by citizens amid ongoing insecurity in the state.
The group expressed disappointment that the current administration had not built upon the progress made by the previous government in curbing attacks by herdsmen.
They alleged that these armed groups now move freely and have taken over several communities across Benue State.
BAN questioned the government’s silence on the status of the 2017 anti-open grazing law and asked why no significant effort was being made to stop herdsmen from occupying more areas in the state.
They also challenged the governor to disclose the state’s monthly revenue from the federal allocation since May 2023, and to account for how public funds have been utilized.
The group demanded transparency on the state’s wage bill, especially after claims that thousands of ghost workers had been removed from the payroll.
Furthermore, BAN asked the governor to publish a list of the so-called ghost schools recently discovered, along with the identities of those responsible for operating them.
The group also requested detailed information on the cost of the underpass projects in Makurdi and Gboko, and urged the government to provide evidence that these contracts were awarded through due process.
Additionally, they asked for a breakdown of the state’s internally generated revenue (IGR) from May 2023 to the present, and a clear plan to end ongoing violence in rural areas.
BAN criticized the governor for building new camps and shelters for displaced persons instead of keeping his promise to return them to their homes within his first 100 days in office.
They also raised concerns about the 100 vehicles showcased during the launch of the state security outfit ‘Anyam Nyor’ in December 2023, questioning their current location and usage given the continued attacks on communities.
In response, the Governor’s Chief Press Secretary, Tersoo Kula, dismissed the group’s claims and affirmed that Governor Alia’s security strategies are carefully planned and effective.
He emphasized that as a man of integrity, the governor prefers concrete action over public showmanship.
Kula pointed out that peace is gradually returning to conflict-prone border communities with Nasarawa and Taraba states, noting that Benue is being reintegrated into a wider regional security framework.
He clarified that many people still living in IDP camps, especially in Guma LGA, are unable to return home due to the destruction of their houses, not because the government has abandoned them.
According to him, efforts are ongoing to help them return safely and with dignity.
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