The Benue State National Assembly Caucus has strongly refuted claims by Governor Hyacinth Alia that its members are behind the ongoing herdsmen attacks in Benue State, labelling the accusations as baseless and irresponsible.

In a statement issued Thursday at the National Assembly, signed by Senator Abba Patrick Abba, representing Benue South and Senate Minority Leader, the caucus condemned Governor Alia’s remarks made during a national television appearance. Alia had alleged that some National Assembly members from Benue were “architects and arrowheads” of the insecurity, accusing them of instigating and funding armed groups operating in the state.

Titled Alia’s Many Lies, the caucus’s statement dismissed the governor’s claims as reckless and inconsistent, pointing to his history of downplaying the state’s security challenges. The lawmakers highlighted Alia’s earlier assertions, including a claim during a church service in Ikpayongo that no killings had occurred in Benue since he assumed office in May 2023, and his characterization of deadly attacks in Bonta and Ukpute as “mere skirmishes.”

The caucus further criticized Alia for failing to implement the state’s Open Grazing Prohibition Law, despite a Senate resolution urging compliance, and for showing insufficient empathy toward victims of the attacks. They accused the governor of contradictory statements, noting that he has alternately described the attacks as land-grabbing efforts and defended the perpetrators as foreigners protected by ECOWAS protocols.

“Never in the history of Benue State has a governor been known to speak from both sides of his mouth on issues concerning the lives and property of the people,” the statement read. The lawmakers emphasized their contributions to addressing the crisis, including frequent visits to their constituencies to mourn and support affected communities, while accusing Alia of remaining detached in Government House, Makurdi.

The caucus demanded that Governor Alia retract his statements and publicly apologize to the National Assembly members. They also called on the Inspector General of Police to investigate the allegations and urged the governor to focus on governance, cease blame games, and stop associating with non-state actors to intimidate political opponents.

The statement concluded by drawing contrasts with governors of other conflict-affected states like Borno and Plateau, who actively seek federal intervention, while alleging that Alia’s actions suggest he may have been compromised during the 2023 election.

As insecurity continues to plague Benue State, with lives lost and properties destroyed, the public awaits the governor’s response to these serious allegations from the state’s National Assembly representatives.