The Middle Belt Forum (MBF) has sharply criticised Governor Hyacinth Alia of Benue State over his recent comments dismissing claims of religious genocide in the state.
In a strongly worded statement issued on Friday by its spokesman, Luka Binniyat, and made available to DAILY POST, the forum described the governor’s remarks as “shocking,” “offensive,” and “an affront to thousands of slain citizens.”
The group said it was baffled that the governor would deny a situation he had previously acknowledged. According to the MBF, Governor Alia had, in a viral video dated April 20, 2025, declared that Benue was under “well-targeted, well-planned and religiously executed” terrorist attacks.
The forum warned that the governor’s latest comments distort reality and downplay the suffering of communities that have endured years of violent assaults allegedly carried out by Fulani Ethnic Militia (FEM).
Quoting the 1948 UN Genocide Convention, Binniyat stressed that attacks in Benue and across the Middle Belt meet several criteria used internationally to define genocide—especially as the affected communities are predominantly Christian farming populations.
He said the pattern of violence, including mass killings, rape, widespread village destruction, and forced displacement, has been well documented by local and international organisations.
According to the MBF, official Benue State records indicate that at least 5,138 people were killed between 2015 and March 2023, with additional waves of deadly attacks recorded in 2024 and 2025. Independent human-rights monitors and UN agencies have also reported multiple mass-casualty incidents within the last two years.
The forum further noted that displacement figures are staggering, with Amnesty International and UN partners citing over 500,000 internally displaced persons (IDPs) from Benue by the end of 2024, and numbers continuing to climb in 2025.
“These statistics represent real families—mothers, fathers, and children forced into overcrowded camps. To deny this reality is to deny their suffering,” the statement added.
Binniyat alleged that Governor Alia’s stance may be aimed at undermining growing global pressure on Nigeria, especially following a recent U.S. Congressional hearing on Nigeria’s redesignation as a Country of Particular Concern (CPC) over alleged persecution of Christians.
He argued that describing the attacks as mere “clashes” is misleading and harmful, insisting that communities are being invaded in their homes, not engaged in mutual conflict.
The MBF accused the governor of hiding behind his priestly identity rather than confronting the humanitarian crisis facing his state.
The forum demanded that Governor Alia:
- Stop using language that trivialises the scale of killings.
- Allow independent investigations into whether the acts in Benue constitute international crimes.
- Support stronger humanitarian access and protection.
- Provide leadership that prioritises truth and justice for victims.
“The people of Benue deserve protection—not minimisation of their suffering,” the statement concluded.
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