Benue State Governor, Hyacinth Alia, has raised fresh concerns over the escalating violence in the state, attributing the surge in attacks to guerrilla-style tactics employed by terrorists and bandits.
Speaking during an appearance on Focus Nigeria, a programme aired on African Independent Television (AIT) on Tuesday, Governor Alia described the current security situation in Benue as increasingly complex.
According to him, the armed groups launch surprise attacks on communities and quickly retreat, making it difficult for security forces to identify or apprehend them.
“We’re talking about bandits and terrorists who have adopted a mystifying form of guerrilla warfare. They come, strike, and disappear. So it’s difficult to trace them,” Alia said.
The governor, however, expressed optimism that with ongoing support from the federal government, particularly in intelligence gathering, the tide will soon turn against the attackers.
“With the federal government’s continued support through intelligence operations, we believe we can do much more. We will identify these individuals, bring them to justice, and redefine the security outlook of our three most affected local governments—and indeed, the entire state,” he assured.
Benue State has witnessed repeated attacks by armed groups, leading to displacement, destruction, and a humanitarian crisis in several communities. Governor Alia’s remarks come as calls intensify for a more coordinated and technology-driven approach to tackling insecurity in Nigeria’s Middle Belt region.
