Clash of Titans: Gov. Alia Accuses SAN Hon of Politicising Benue Insecurity

Benue State Governor, Rev. Fr. Hyacinth Alia, has sharply rejected a call by Senior Advocate of Nigeria (SAN) and professor of law, Sabastine Hon, for the imposition of emergency rule in the state due to the worsening insecurity.

The governor, through his spokesperson Sir Kulas Tersoo, accused the SAN of exploiting the crisis for political gain, calling his actions “hypocritical” and “shallow.”

“This is pure hypocrisy and shallowness, to put it pleasantly,” the statement read, lambasting Hon’s letter to President Bola Ahmed Tinubu as “local politics with serious issues.”

Tersoo said that Hon, unlike many of his legal contemporaries who uphold national values and justice, has “chosen the narrow path of local politics” and is seeking relevance by capitalising on tragedy.

While Hon acknowledged the deteriorating security in Benue, Alia’s camp argued that he contradicted himself by blaming the state governor—who doesn’t control federal forces—while also writing to federal security chiefs about their failings.

“Is it that Professor Sabastine’s memory failed him?” the statement asked. “Did he forget that the very president to whom he addressed his Facebook petition is the Commander-in-Chief of the Armed Forces?”

Governor Alia’s office detailed various initiatives already implemented to combat insecurity, including:

• Strengthening collaboration with the police, military, and other security agencies.

• Supporting the establishment of new security outposts across the state.

• Advocating for intelligence sharing and community policing.

• Equipping and training local vigilante groups to support official efforts.

The government described Hon’s use of an old video—where Alia referred to earlier attacks as “skirmishes”—as misleading and politically motivated.

“How can a professor be this illogical and funny?” the statement asked. “Is he out of touch with reality or simply playing mischief to please his ‘mallams’ in Abuja?”

As the war of words intensifies, many observers are now watching closely to see whether this political clash will escalate or prompt a more unified approach to tackling insecurity in Benue.