Abba Moro knocks Alia as US delegation snubs Idoma land

• Blames Benue Government for exclusion

• Laments continued marginalisation of Idoma land

• Says insecurity in Benue South was hidden from the world

When a United States Congressional delegation arrived in Benue State on a fact-finding mission to assess the impact of insecurity, displacement and humanitarian crises, expectations were high across the state.

For many in Benue South, also known as Zone C, the visit represented a rare opportunity for the world to see, firsthand, the scale of devastation suffered by communities repeatedly attacked by armed groups.

But when the delegation departed without visiting a single community in Zone C, or meeting any representative from the area, disappointment quickly turned to outrage.

At the centre of the storm is the Senate Minority Leader and senator representing Benue South, Comrade Abba Moro, PhD, who has squarely blamed the Benue State Government under Governor Hyacinth Alia for what he described as the deliberate exclusion of Zone C from the US delegation’s itinerary.

In the days following the visit, the office of Senator Moro was inundated with calls from concerned constituents demanding answers over why Benue South, one of the regions worst hit by violent attacks, was ignored during the high-profile mission.

According to the senator, the omission did not occur by accident.

Moro insists that the state government, which coordinated engagements for the visiting delegation, failed—or refused—to present the true picture of insecurity in Benue South to the international community.

“What happened was not just unfortunate; it was revealing,” a senior aide to the senator noted. “Zone C was shut out, and the world was shown only a selective version of Benue’s crisis.”

Blame Squarely on the State Government

While clarifying that he had no role in drawing up the delegation’s itinerary, Senator Moro emphasized that the responsibility lies with the Benue State Government, which controls access, security briefings and official engagements for visiting foreign missions.

As Chief Security Officer of the state, Governor Alia not only oversees security architecture but also draws monthly security votes and manages state and local government allocations. Moro argues that this position comes with the responsibility to treat all zones fairly and to ensure that no part of the state is concealed or sidelined.

Yet, according to him, the pattern of neglect against Benue South has remained consistent.

Marginalisation of Idoma Land

The senator lamented what he described as the continued marginalisation of Idoma land, noting that exclusion from the US delegation’s visit is only the latest in a long list of grievances.

From infrastructure deficits to poor security response, Moro has repeatedly accused the Alia administration of lacking empathy for the plight of Benue South.

He pointed to budgetary priorities that, in his view, further expose the imbalance in governance—citing massive allocations for projects in other parts of the state while critical needs in Zone C receive what he called “token attention.”

Despite these concerns, Moro observed that some political actors within the zone have chosen to defend the state government while directing blame at him for challenges far beyond his constitutional responsibilities.

Perhaps the most troubling aspect of the US delegation’s visit, according to the senator, is that the insecurity ravaging Benue South was effectively hidden from the international community.

Communities in Apa, Agatu, Otukpo, Ohimini, Ogbadibo and other parts of Zone C have endured repeated attacks, displacement and loss of livelihoods. Yet none of these realities were reflected in the delegation’s engagements.

By excluding Zone C, Moro argues, the state government denied victims a voice and denied the world a full understanding of the crisis in Benue.

“This was an opportunity to tell the whole story,” an associate of the senator said. “Instead, only part of the story was told.”

Even as frustration grows, Senator Moro has urged his constituents to remain calm and steadfast, assuring them that the truth cannot be suppressed indefinitely.

Quoting a local proverb, he reminded the people that “only God protects the tailless cow from flies,” a reference to the resilience of Benue South despite years of neglect and adversity.

For many in Idoma land, however, one thing is already clear: when the world came calling, Benue South was left behind—and someone must answer for it.