States Cry Out Over Killings as Bandits and Herders Wreak Havoc Across Benue and Plateau
Governors of Benue and Plateau States, Hyacinth Alia and Caleb Mutfwang, have issued urgent pleas to the Federal Government, warning that their states are under relentless attacks by armed herders and bandits.
The ongoing violence has claimed nearly 300 lives in just one month, destroyed countless properties, and forced thousands to flee their homes.
In Benue, the death toll from attacks on Ukum and Logo LGAs over Good Friday has climbed to 72. Earlier attacks on Otukpo LGA communities claimed about 30 lives, with the state’s Kwande LGA also under constant assault.
Governor Alia described the situation as a coordinated siege, stressing that “terrorists” were killing people to occupy land. “They drag people out, kill, and settle in. This is terrorism, plain and simple,” he said, urging the Federal Government to act swiftly.
Meanwhile, in Plateau State, Governor Mutfwang revealed that almost all the 17 LGAs are plagued by rising insecurity. He accused bandits of taking over forests and grazing reserves, particularly in Wase and Kanam. “Plateau is under siege. This is no longer a clash—it’s terrorism and genocide,” Mutfwang declared.
He further explained that the attacks have intensified since the December 2023 massacre in Bokkos, where over 150 people were killed.
The governor said nearly 3,000 deaths have been documented in Bassa LGA alone since 2015, and the violence has spread to Mangu, Pankshin, Kanke, Jos South, Riyom, and Barkin Ladi.
Mutfwang emphasized the need for national unity to resist these attacks and rejected the narrative that the violence stems from farmer-herder clashes. “This is not a clash—it is a strategic occupation,” he said.
As frustration builds, hundreds of Christian leaders and residents in Plateau took to the streets, dressed in black, red, and white, to protest the killings. Led by top clerics, the demonstrators marched to Government House demanding immediate government intervention.
“We protest peacefully in honour of the dead and to call for justice,” said Rev. Amos Mohzo, President of the Church of Christ in Nations (COCIN).
In Jigawa, Governor Umar Namadi reacted to a recent call by former Defence Minister, Lt. General Theophilus Danjuma (retd), urging Nigerians to defend themselves. Namadi warned that such calls could lead to anarchy, saying, “Citizens defending themselves will only worsen the crisis.”
He instead advocated for strategic, community-based approaches and expressed support for the creation of state police. “The idea of state policing is gaining ground among governors, and it’s a necessary solution,” he said.
As the nation grapples with these security crises, calls for urgent and decisive government action continue to grow louder.
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