Benue State Governor, Hyacinth Alia, has declared that what the residents need is full support from the Federal Government, not a state of emergency.
Alia stated this when he was featured on Arise Television’s “The Morning Show”.
According to the governor, the insecurity in Benue is not beyond his control, noting that he can handle the situation, but needs more help from the Federal Government to end the crisis.
He explained that his government can stop the killings happening in the state, but they need more support to chase out the armed herders attacking communities.
Alia 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 had changed.”
The governor noted that the number of local governments under attack has dropped from 17 to six since he took office, which shows that his administration can handle the violence and destruction caused by killer herders.
However, he emphasized that they need help to drive out the invaders and allow farmers to return to their ancestral lands.
“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,” Alia stated.