Benue Killings: We need help, not state of emergency —  Gov Alia begs FG

Amid the escalating number of killings in Benue, the State Governor, Reverend Father Hyacinth Alia, stated that what the people of Benue require is the Federal Government’s complete support, not a state of emergency declaration.

Governor Alia told Arise Television’s “The Morning Show” on Wednesday that the insecurity situation in Benue is manageable, but he needs the Federal Government’s help to address the matter.

He stated that his administration is capable of putting an end to the killings in the state, but he requires more assistance to drive killer herders who are entering Benue communities out.

He said, “For now, we only require emergency assistance. We require absolute support. The federal government receives support. They sent two armoured tanks, which arrived. Our circumstances had changed. We had a better narrative, but what we need to do now is get our people home and drive away the invaders, armed invaders who have brought in people who do not even speak Nigerian. Allow them to return to wherever they came from while we farmers return to our original lands. Calling for an emergency does not happen here.”

The governor denied the idea that the state’s security situation would be too much for him to handle. According to him, his administration has decreased the number of targeted local government areas from 17 to six.

According to him, such behaviour shows that his government is capable of dealing with the state’s ongoing deaths and property devastation by killer herders, some of whom he believes are not Nigerian.

“We couldn’t have trimmed it from 17 local governments in the front lines of the attacks to nine and then now to six, which means we have the capability to do this, but we need help. This demonstrates our capability,” the governor said.