The North Central Media Forum views with profound dismay the recent interview granted by the Governor of Benue State, Rev. Fr. Hyacinth Alia, to Channels Television, wherein he attempted a deliberate deflection of public scrutiny from his administration’s palpable failure to mitigate insecurity in the state. Instead of offering clarity or strategic direction, the Governor has chosen the unproductive path of scapegoating and rhetorical blame.
It is imperative to remind the public of Governor Alia’s glaring inconsistencies and unfulfilled pledges concerning the security situation in Benue. Notably, the Governor had, in the heat of post-election optimism, assured the citizenry of his ability to resolve the crisis of insecurity within his first 100 days in office.
He publicly declared having reached a purported agreement with militant groups in Sankera for their rehabilitation and assured a cessation of hostilities. This claim was reaffirmed by the late Tor Sankera, His Royal Highness Abu King Shuluwa, during the funeral of the late Chief Fazenga Wombo on January 13, 2024, at the Akume Atongo Stadium in Katsina-Ala. The pertinent question remains: what tangible rehabilitation framework was instituted for these militants, and why has the Governor failed to implement it?
Governor Alia has, regrettably, continued to issue contradictory statements regarding the security crisis in Benue. He has vacillated from outright denial of attacks on communities to accusing National Assembly members of writing and inviting armed herders, then downplaying the assaults as mere skirmishes.
Subsequently, he attributed the violence to foreign mercenaries, only to revert again to blaming federal legislators based on alleged findings of a yet-to-be-substantiated committee of inquiry.
