Terrorists are taking over Benue – Youth leader drops bombshell

Benue South youth leader, Magagi Mike Alidu, has sounded the alarm over what he describes as a deliberate and ongoing attempt by Fulani terrorists to seize control of ancestral lands in the state through violent attacks and mass displacement.

Alidu, who serves as the President of the Ochetoha K’Idoma Youth Wing Worldwide in an interview with DAILY POST, said, the wave of killings across Benue communities is no longer a random act of banditry but a well-coordinated strategy aimed at ethnic cleansing and territorial occupation.

“The killings are not accidental or isolated,” he said. “They are part of an occupational agenda. These Fulani herders are targeting our people, our villages, and our heritage with the intent of driving us out so they can take over our fertile lands.”

Alidu further alleged that these terrorists have publicly admitted to the richness of Benue’s land, which they claim is perfect for grazing and livestock breeding.

“They’ve said it themselves – Benue land is rich, and everything they need for their cows is here. So they kill, burn, and displace us to make way for themselves,” he added.

The youth leader expressed deep frustration over the failure of security forces to stop the bloodshed, accusing even high-ranking officials of unintentionally worsening the crisis.

He claimed that the recent visit of Nigeria’s Chief of Army Staff to Benue not only failed to yield positive results but actually triggered an escalation.

“After the Army Chief came, over 200 people were killed in Yelewata and other areas. His visit gave the attackers the green light,” Alidu alleged.

While acknowledging the recent visit of President Bola Tinubu to Benue as a potential turning point, Alidu insisted that real justice must go beyond presidential sympathies.

“The only reason we’ve seen arrests in Nasarawa is because the President questioned the lack of action. But we need more than that. Our people need to see sustained justice, not photo ops,” he stated.