Governor Hyacinth Alia of Benue State has raised alarm over the escalating violence in the state, attributing the latest wave of killings to heavily armed herders, many of whom, he claims, entered the state without cattle and with the sole purpose of unleashing terror. In a recent interview with Channels Television, the governor spoke in detail about the tragic events unfolding in communities like Yelewata and Daudu in Guma Local Government Area, where over 100 people were reportedly killed on June 14, 2025. By the following Sunday, the death toll had allegedly doubled to around 200, sparking outrage and fear across the nation.

Governor Alia emphasized that the nature of the violence has changed drastically. In previous years, clashes were typically between farmers and herders over grazing lands or crop destruction. However, the current situation has escalated beyond those traditional disputes. He explained that the attackers, now described as “armed herders,” arrive not with cattle but with military-grade weapons such as AK-47 and AK-49 rifles. Some of these armed individuals, he noted, are not Nigerian citizens and reportedly enter the country through the Cameroon border, further complicating the state’s security challenges.

He shared that while residents had previously returned to farming and recorded successful harvests, this year’s agricultural season has been disrupted by renewed violence. The governor expressed concern that these attackers do not seem interested in grazing or livestock management. Instead, they commit mass killings and, shortly afterward, groups of people move in to occupy the vacated lands. This has led to suspicion that there may be internal collaborators within affected communities who aid or facilitate these attacks.

Governor Alia warned that what started as a herder-farmer conflict has now been hijacked by criminals, including bandits and terrorists, who exploit the situation for their own gains. He called attention to the urgent need for security reinforcement and thorough investigations, stressing that the crisis in Benue is no longer a local issue but a national security threat involving foreign elements and organized violence.