The Benue State Government has issued a strongly worded statement accusing opposition politicians, including the governorship candidate of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), Chief Michael Aondoakaa, and Labour Party’s Herman Hembe, of exploiting recent herders’ attacks on communities for political gains ahead of elections.
In a statement on Wednesday, the Chief Press Secretary to the Governor, Sir Tersoo Kula, said the government condemns what it called the “cynical weaponisation” of the tragedies, saying that grieving families deserve compassion and unity rather than what it described as political point-scoring.
He said confirmation by security chiefs abounds to the effect that Governor Hyacinth Alia’s administration is consistently providing tangible support to security agencies through logistical assistance, intelligence collaboration, personnel motivation, and coordination with local vigilantes to protect communities and restore peace.
Kula further alleged a pattern in which certain opposition figures, who he claimed were largely silent in earlier phases of the crisis, now emerged during renewed violence to issue political statements.
He called on security agencies to investigate suggestions that some political actors may be linked to sponsoring unrest for electoral advantage, specifically naming Aondoakaa and Hembe, and demanded a swift, transparent probe.
Neither Aondoakaa nor Hembe had responded to the allegations as at the time of this report. Both men and their parties have previously criticised the Alia administration’s handling of security in Benue State, a region that has faced repeated attacks linked to farmer-herder conflict.
The government’s statement closed with an appeal to political leaders, civil society, traditional and religious leaders, and the media to prioritise the safety of Benue residents over partisan interests, and reaffirmed the administration’s stated commitment to truth, justice, and lasting peace” in the state.
