…Alia Says Benue Needs Federal Support, Not State of Emergency
Former Governor of Benue State, Chief Samuel Ortom, has cancelled all celebrations planned for his 64th birthday in a show of solidarity with victims of the ongoing violent attacks in the state.
In a statement issued by his media aide, Terver Akase, on Wednesday, Ortom said the decision was a personal response to the bloodshed and suffering caused by renewed killings in parts of the state.
“In light of the ongoing intensified invasion, attacks, and senseless killings of innocent Benue people by Fulani terrorists across various local government areas, I have decided not to hold any celebration or festivities,” he stated.
The former governor, who turned 64 on Wednesday, said he was deeply saddened by the continued loss of lives and destruction of communities, adding that his thoughts and prayers are with the victims and their families.
He expressed appreciation to the people of Benue and Nigerians across the country for their love, concern, and goodwill, saying, “I remain grateful to God Almighty for His mercy, good health, and blessings over the past 64 years, and I reaffirm my commitment to the service of God and humanity in the years ahead.”
Ortom further urged citizens to continue to pray for peace and divine intervention in the security situation, especially in Benue and other troubled parts of the country.
He called on Nigerians to pray for President Bola Ahmed Tinubu, Benue State Governor Hyacinth Alia, and Secretary to the Government of the Federation, Senator George Akume, stating that God should “grant them wisdom and strength to tackle the nation’s security challenges.”
Meanwhile, Governor Hyacinth Alia has said that what Benue needs at this moment is full federal support, not the declaration of a state of emergency.
Speaking on Arise Television’s The Morning Show on Wednesday, Alia dismissed suggestions that the situation in the state was beyond his control.
He said, “What we need is emergency help for now. We need absolute support. The Federal Government is supported. They sent two armoured tanks that came in. Our situation has changed.”
He explained that although his administration inherited a volatile security situation, some progress has been made in restoring calm, and the number of affected local government areas has reduced significantly.
“We had a better narrative, but what we need to do is to get our people back home, to drive out the invaders, the armed invaders who have brought in people who do not even speak the Nigerian languages we speak. Let them move back to wherever they came from and allow us farmers to go back to our ancestral land. Calling for any emergency does not occur here.”
Alia insisted that the state government has the capacity to handle the crisis with the right kind of support, noting that since his assumption of office, the number of local government areas experiencing attacks has dropped from 17 to just six.
“We couldn’t have trimmed it from 17 local governments in the front lines of the attacks to nine and then now to six, which means we have the capability to do this, but we need help. And that is a fact,” he said.
Benue State has in recent months witnessed a resurgence of deadly attacks by armed Fulani herders, leading to loss of lives and displacement of communities, prompting calls for decisive intervention by the Federal Government.
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