“They Fund the Killers”: Alia Says Politicians Behind Deadly Violence in Benue
Governor Hyacinth Alia of Benue State has issued a grave and stunning accusation, claiming that some serving politicians in Nigeria’s National Assembly are orchestrating, financing, and sheltering terrorists responsible for a wave of deadly attacks across the state.
In a recent interview on Channels Television’s Politics Today, Governor Alia described the situation in Benue as a “state under siege,” asserting that the violent onslaughts tearing through communities are no longer random clashes, but part of a deliberate and highly organized campaign of terror.
“These attacks are not spontaneous. They are directed, they are planned, and they are executed with precision,” Alia stated, highlighting that intelligence reports his administration has received are consistently 60 to 65 percent accurate—suggesting coordinated operations rather than sporadic violence.
The recent upsurge in violence across several local government areas in Benue—and other parts of the North Central region—has resulted in widespread loss of life and deepening insecurity. According to the governor, these are no longer the familiar farmer-herder conflicts of past years. Instead, he insists, the violence is now perpetrated by trained killers employing guerrilla tactics.
“These people strike at night, disappear before dawn, and leave no trace,” Alia lamented. “They’re not ordinary criminals. They are terrorists with a well-structured plan.”
Governor Alia didn’t stop at describing the brutality—he pointed fingers at specific individuals. He alleged that certain Abuja-based politicians, including active National Assembly members, are at the center of the crisis. An interim report from a judicial panel of inquiry he set up has already implicated several high-profile figures, he revealed.
“The full report will be in my hands between Tuesday and Wednesday next week,” he said. “But the interim findings are alarming. Some politicians are not just supporting these terrorists ideologically—they are financing them, housing them in the bush, and equipping them with sophisticated tools.”
Alia condemned this alleged betrayal of public trust, suggesting the motive may be rooted in political power struggles. “If they are fighting for political positions and disregard the lives of ordinary Nigerians, then they have lost their humanity. But I swore to protect the people of Benue, and that is exactly what I intend to do.”
The governor vowed that once the final report is submitted, his administration will pursue justice with urgency and seriousness, signaling what could be a dramatic shift in the handling of the region’s security crisis.
This revelation, if substantiated, could have major implications for national security and the credibility of Nigeria’s democratic institutions—unveiling a disturbing nexus between politics and violence.
