Herdsmen attacks: Gov Alia has failed, Benue drifting into Banana Republic — Abba Moro

Senate Minority Leader and Senator representing Benue South Senatorial District, Abba Moro, has described Governor Hyacinth Alia’s handling of the security situation in Benue State as a failure, warning that the state is gradually drifting into a “banana republic” following the spate of deadly attacks in Benue South.

Speaking while reacting to the recent killings in Akpachi-Ugboju, Otukpo Nobi and Ondo Ugboju communities in Otukpo Local Government Area, Moro criticised what he described as the government’s reactive approach to insecurity, insisting that authorities had failed to act on intelligence available before the attacks.

According to the senator, security information indicating an impending attack was available seven days before the assault on Otukpo Nobi, but no proactive measures were taken.

He further alleged that when the Commissioner of Police was contacted over the intelligence, the police chief complained that he could not reach Governor Alia to brief him on the security situation.

“I have told you here that intelligence was available seven days before this attack occurred in Otukpo Nobi, and when the Commissioner of Police was contacted, he expressed helplessness because he could not access the governor to tell him some of the things happening on the ground,” Moro said.

Questioning the government’s response, the senator said it was unacceptable for authorities to focus on relief materials after attacks instead of preventing them.

“How else do you want the governor to know that the lives of his people are under threat and that he should take proactive action? All the time, it’s about asking them to bring bags of rice, asking them to bring ₦10 million and the rest of it,” he stated.

Moro lamented that governors in Nigeria often respond only after attacks have taken place.

“In other climes, governors are usually the first responders in such circumstances. But here, our governors remain in the comfort of their Government Houses, making statements to condemn. They do not make statements to prevent. After the attacks, they deploy security, and once the attention dies down, everything returns to normal until another attack occurs.

“So, for how long shall we continue condemning what has happened instead of preventing what will happen?” he asked.

The senator said the recurring attacks had raised serious concerns about governance in Benue State.

“It is now left for you to judge whether there is governance in Benue State and other parts of Nigeria that have been recklessly attacked without any response from government, or whether there is no governance at all,” he said.

While declining to accuse anyone of complicity, Moro maintained that the government had failed in its responsibility to protect lives and property.

“I think it is not for me to say who is complicit or who is not complicit, who is negligent or who is not negligent. The fact is that these things are happening, and we are supposed to have a government in place that should contain the situation, but it is not being done,” he added.

On the recent killing of the Miyetti Allah chairman in Benue State, Moro cautioned against linking the incident to the attacks on communities in Benue South.

He described it as a separate occurrence, warning that no grievance could justify the massacre of innocent communities.

“If for whatever reason somebody was killed, that is not enough justification to go and massacre a whole community or three communities,” he said.

The senator warned that unless urgent steps were taken to halt the violence, Benue risked descending into lawlessness.

“All of us, I think, are gradually drifting into a banana republic where it is every man for himself,” Moro said.

He called on the Federal Government and security agencies to take decisive action to stop the bloodshed in Benue South and restore confidence among residents of the affected communities.