The Benue State Government has clarified Governor Hyacinth Alia’s recent remarks on the nature of killings in the state.
The clarification followed reactions from citizens, stakeholders, and advocacy groups.
Governor Alia, while speaking at the High-Level Policy Consultation on the Protection of Internally Displaced Persons (IDPs) and Forcibly Displaced Persons (FDPs) organized by the National Human Rights Commission (NHRC) in Abuja on November 19, 2025, said, “In my State of Benue, we don’t have any religious, any ethnic, any racial, any national, or State genocide.
We don’t have that. Do we have a number of insecurities in the State, yes we do, but it is not genocide.”
The statement drew mixed reactions across the country, with some interpreting it as an attempt to downplay the persistent attacks and rising death toll in parts of the state.
However, in a statement issued on behalf of the government, the Commissioner for Information and Orientation, Dr. Peter Oboh Egbodo, said the Governor’s comments were misunderstood and taken out of context.
The Commissioner emphasized that Governor Alia did not dismiss the pain of victims of violent attacks, nor did he trivialize the loss of lives in affected communities.
The Governor remains fully aware of the gravity of the security challenges and continues to treat them with urgency and seriousness.
Dr. Egbodo explained that the Governor’s clarification that the killings should not be framed strictly along religious lines was made to ensure accurate public reporting and responsible discourse. He stressed that misrepresenting the conflict as purely religious could hinder the multi-sectoral interventions currently being implemented.
According to the statement, the conflict in Benue State is complex, involving criminality, land-use disputes, and targeted acts of violence, which require strategic, intelligence-driven responses beyond religious categorization.
The government reaffirmed that it is not indifferent to the plight of Christian communities or any other groups affected by the attacks. Governor Alia remains deeply concerned about the safety and dignity of all residents, irrespective of religion or ethnicity.
The administration has intensified collaboration with security agencies to strengthen response capacity, provided relief and resettlement support to displaced persons, advocated for enhanced security presence at national and international levels, and initiated long-term measures to address the root causes of violence.
The statement added that the Governor continues to visit affected communities, mourn with bereaved families, and mobilize all levers of government to restore peace.
The public was urged to interpret the Governor’s remarks within the broader context of his commitment to securing Benue State and ending the cycle of violence.
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