Benue State Governor, Reverend Father Hyacinth Alia, has firmly dismissed allegations that any form of genocide is occurring within his state, while simultaneously acknowledging the presence of security challenges that require attention.
Governor's Public Address on Security Situation
During a recent public engagement, Governor Alia addressed circulating claims about the security situation in Benue State. The governor, who maintains his religious identity while serving in political office, emphasized his commitment to truthfulness based on his spiritual principles.
"I am a Reverend Father so being in governance does not take that away from me," Governor Alia stated during his address. "I came in as a governor as a Reverend Father, I am working with the fear of God and the compassion of Christianity and humanity."
Clear Distinction: Insecurity Versus Genocide
The governor made a crucial distinction between general insecurity and organized genocide, specifically denying the latter exists in any form within Benue State. He explicitly addressed multiple categories where genocide claims have surfaced.
"In my state of Benue, we do not have any religious, ethnic, racial, national or state genocide. We don't have that," the governor asserted with clarity.
However, Governor Alia did not completely dismiss security concerns. When questioned about the presence of violence in the state, he provided a nuanced response that acknowledged problems while contextualizing their scale.
"Do we have a number of insecurity in the state? Yes we do but it is not a genocide," he clarified, indicating that while security incidents occur, they do not constitute the systematic destruction characteristic of genocide.
Religious Identity Informing Governance Approach
Governor Alia repeatedly referenced his background as a religious leader, suggesting this identity shapes his approach to governance and truth-telling. He emphasized that his temporary political role doesn't override his permanent spiritual vocation.
"I am still a Reverend Father... and at the end of the day, I am still going back to the church as a Reverend father and a Christian," he noted, underscoring the continuity of his religious commitment throughout his political service.
The governor's statements come amid ongoing security challenges in several parts of Benue State, where conflicts between farmers and herders have periodically escalated into violence affecting multiple communities.
By making these declarations at a public forum, Governor Alia has positioned his administration as transparent about security challenges while pushing back against what he characterizes as exaggerated claims about the nature of violence in the region.
