Governor Alia.webp
The Digest:

Benue’s governor, a Catholic priest turned politician, publicly refutes allegations of religious genocide, drawing a sharp distinction between the state’s real security challenges and the loaded terminology used by international actors.

Key Points:
  • Governor Hyacinth Alia firmly denied any religious or ethnic genocide in Benue State
  • He spoke at a National Human Rights Commission forum on IDP protection in Abuja
  • Alia challenged critics to consult UN definitions before using the term “genocide”
  • He also dismissed claims of a “jihad” occurring anywhere in Nigeria
  • The governor revealed he personally engaged the US embassy to correct the narrative
  • His rebuttal comes amid the US redesignation of Nigeria as a Country of Particular Concern
  • Benue has faced significant violence, with over 800 killed in two years, per ACLED data
In a climate of international accusation and local suffering, this semantic dispute carries profound weight, defining the conflict that shapes the response.

Sources: Premium Times, Daily Trust, Daily Post