Unmasking the Shadows: Benue Governor Points to Internal Complicity in Killings as Armed Militants Return

Benue State is again gripped by sorrow and rising fear as Governor Hyacinth Alia disclosed troubling details about the ongoing wave of violent attacks that have claimed over 200 lives. Speaking candidly in an interview with Channels Television, the governor did not hold back, pointing fingers at both external armed invaders and insiders whom he believes are aiding the bloodshed.

Describing the situation not just as a security breach but a humanitarian tragedy, Governor Alia painted a grim picture of what he termed a “carnage,” suggesting a troubling internal betrayal playing out across rural communities. According to him, there is now a consistent and disturbing pattern where these brutal assaults seem orchestrated with the help of individuals from within the affected areas.

"A thief doesn't break into a house unless someone opens the door from inside," Alia remarked gravely. This metaphor underscored his growing suspicion that some locals may be enabling the attackers either through collusion or by leaking sensitive information. The governor emphasized that this internal compromise is making it significantly more difficult for security operatives to combat the escalating violence.

Though Benue has long endured conflicts rooted in the farmer-herder dynamic, recent developments suggest a disturbing shift. The perpetrators, Governor Alia noted, are no longer typical herdsmen wandering with cattle. Instead, they are heavily armed assailants wielding sophisticated weapons including AK-47 and AK-49 rifles. These assailants, he explained, strike swiftly and lethally, only to be followed by settlers who move in and occupy the vacated, terror-stricken lands.

The violence, which initially centered around Makurdi and Guma local government areas years ago, has now taken deeper roots and spread across broader swaths of the state. Upon assuming office in 2023, Alia said his administration made significant strides in pushing back the threat, reducing the number of front-line conflict zones from 17 local government areas to six. However, these gains have eroded rapidly in recent months.

Currently, the worst-hit local government areas include Gwer West, Logo, Ukum, Katsina-Ala, Apa, Agatu, and Guma. Many of these places had enjoyed a period of relative calm, with displaced persons returning to their homes and resuming their livelihoods. Guma, for instance, had seen over a year of uninterrupted peace, allowing residents to farm and harvest successfully. That fragile peace has since been shattered.

Alia expressed particular concern over the nature and origin of the renewed attacks. He noted that the attackers speak neither Hausa nor Fulani—the predominant languages associated with traditional pastoralist communities in the region. Instead, they use unfamiliar dialects, raising alarm that these are not local actors, but possibly mercenaries or foreign militias infiltrating the state.

Benue’s strategic location may be contributing to its vulnerability. The state shares borders with Cameroon, Taraba, and Nasarawa—regions that could serve as points of entry for the armed groups. Intelligence reports, the governor noted, suggest that some of the assailants originate from the Cameroon axis, hinting at a broader transnational threat that extends beyond the immediate territorial boundaries of Nigeria.

As the violence continues to escalate, the governor is calling for more coordinated and decisive national action. He stressed the urgent need for both military and intelligence efforts to not only repel the attackers but also dismantle the networks of internal collaborators giving them access.

Moreover, Alia urged community leaders, traditional rulers, and everyday citizens to remain vigilant and cooperative with security agencies. “We need our people to be the first line of defense. They must protect their communities by refusing to harbor or support those who bring destruction.”

This latest revelation by Governor Alia deepens the urgency of the crisis in Benue and poses difficult questions about the evolving dynamics of rural insecurity in Nigeria. With a complex mix of foreign infiltration, local betrayal, and high-powered weaponry at play, the state now stands at a dangerous crossroads—one that demands swift, strategic, and united intervention.