The governor of Benue State, Hyacinth Alia, has declared that the state is under siege from terrorists and bandits, saying that the recent attacks that have claimed several lives is beyond herders-farmers clash.
There has been a surge in attacks in the North-Central state in recent weeks, with several local government areas experiencing violent onslaughts that have claimed numerous lives.
Governor Alia said that the attacks are well planned and executed by terrorists.
“We are under siege,” Governor Alia exclaimed on the programme when asked if he thinks the state is under terror attack. “The way these attacks come and the intel we receive, it is a directed calibrated plan and then executed.
“On a daily basis we are receiving those intel. Of late, each of those intel we receive, 60 to 65 per cent of it is quite accurate.
“And then when you realise what is going on, it is beyond just conflict, it is beyond just an ethnic fight between herders and farmers in our state, it is directed, it is planned and then it is executed, it is some terrorism.”