Benue State leader Hyacinth Alia has pushed back against claims he minimized violence in his territory, arguing observers misunderstood his earlier remarks about attacks lacking sectarian motivation. Speaking in Makurdi after meeting Nobel laureate Wole Soyinka, Alia said his description of perpetrators acting religiously was merely figurative language comparable to working judiciously and carried no theological implication.
The governor traced the bloodshed to disputes between farmers and herders that devolved into organized criminality targeting land rather than faith communities. He noted casualties span multiple denominations and cautioned against weaponizing tragedy for partisan advantage while thousands remain displaced from their communities.
Alia announced upcoming road construction projects in the state capital and thanked Soyinka for examining the conditions facing residents and observing governmental progress firsthand.
The governor traced the bloodshed to disputes between farmers and herders that devolved into organized criminality targeting land rather than faith communities. He noted casualties span multiple denominations and cautioned against weaponizing tragedy for partisan advantage while thousands remain displaced from their communities.
Alia announced upcoming road construction projects in the state capital and thanked Soyinka for examining the conditions facing residents and observing governmental progress firsthand.
