Governor Hyacinth Alia of Benue State has denied claims that the Federal Government has not provided adequate support to the state in its fight against vicious marauders.
“If President Bola Tinubu didn’t have an understanding of what is going on, he won’t be giving us full support,” he said.
Speaking on Channels Television’s The Morning Brief programme on Monday, Alia said the Federal Government has been providing full support to the state, which has helped reduce the number of local governments under siege from 17 to three.
“Seventeen local governments out of 23 were under siege and then we fought it down to nine local governments.
”We fought it down to six and now to three. It came down because of the full support we got from the Federal Government, ” he said.
Alia revealed that the Federal Government assigned three security units to the state, which led to a significant shift in the security situation.
“The last time we had some severe attacks, three security units were assigned to us from the federal government.
”They came in and there was a huge shift. Those who had occupied the spaces in the local governments had to leave,” he stated.
He attributed the reduction in attacks to the full support provided by the Federal Government.
Benue State has been under heavy attacks by suspected herdsmen, resulting in the deaths of hundreds of residents in recent weeks and months.
The killings have been linked to inter-communal conflicts and land dominance between agrarian dwellers and nomadic cattle rearers.
On June 15, 2025, at least 59 residents were killed in a night attack by suspected herdsmen in the Yelewata community.
In April 2025, suspected herdsmen killed about 60 residents in Ukum and Logo local government areas, while in May 2025, at least 42 people were confirmed killed in the Gwer West LGA.
