{"id":7047,"date":"2025-06-16T07:14:21","date_gmt":"2025-06-16T07:14:21","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/beadysword.com.ng\/blog\/?p=7047"},"modified":"2025-06-16T09:17:16","modified_gmt":"2025-06-16T09:17:16","slug":"they-show-killers-the-way-gov-alia-blames-villagers-for-attacks-on-benue-communities","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/beadysword.com.ng\/blog\/2025\/06\/16\/they-show-killers-the-way-gov-alia-blames-villagers-for-attacks-on-benue-communities\/","title":{"rendered":"\u2018They show killers the way\u2019 \u2013 Gov Alia blames villagers for attacks on Benue communities"},"content":{"rendered":"

Benue State Governor, Hyacinth Alia<\/a>, has raised fresh concerns over the ongoing wave of violence and killings in parts of the state, alleging that some members of affected communities may be aiding the attackers.<\/p>\n

In an interview with Channels Television, Alia, who described the situation as \u201ccarnage,\u201d said there is now a disturbing pattern pointing to internal collaboration.<\/p>\n

He said, \u201cWhat we are observing is a pattern, a simple but disturbing equation. A thief does not break into a community unless someone from within shows him the way,\u201d he said.<\/p>\n

He lamented the persistent bloodshed, noting that the crisis, which started years ago in Makurdi and Guma local governments, has since spread and intensified.<\/p>\n

\u201cWhen we came into governance in 2023, 17 local governments were on the frontlines. We fought hard and brought it down to nine, then six. But the attacks have resurged,\u201d he revealed.<\/p>\n

According to him, the local governments currently worst affected include Gwer West, Logo, Ukum, Katsina-Ala, Apa, Agatu and Guma, many of which had previously seen relative peace.<\/p>\n

\u201cGuma had peace for over a year. People returned home, farmed and had a good harvest. But this farming season, the attacks have resumed, with a new face,\u201d Alia said.<\/p>\n

He explained that while the violence was previously framed as a farmer-herder crisis, the nature of the attacks has since evolved.<\/p>\n

\u201cThey no longer bring cattle. These are not regular herders. What we now see are armed men carrying AK-47s and AK-49s. They come to attack, to kill and soon after, others move in to occupy the land.<\/p>\n

Benue shares borders with Cameroon, Taraba and Nasarawa. Some of these attacks are said to originate from the Cameroon axis. The attackers do not speak the Hausa or Fulani we know. Their language is unfamiliar.\u201d<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

Benue State Governor, Hyacinth Alia, has raised fresh concerns over the ongoing wave of violence and killings in parts of the state, alleging that some members of affected communities may be aiding the attackers....<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":2,"featured_media":7048,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[2],"tags":[],"class_list":["post-7047","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-news"],"aioseo_notices":[],"aioseo_head":"\n\t\t\n\t\n\t\n\t\n\t\n\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t