Benue State Governor Hyacinth Alia has described interventions by the Federal Government and the United States as “very helpful” in efforts to tackle persistent insecurity in Benue and other parts of the North-Central region.
Speaking on Channels Television’s Sunrise Daily, Alia called for stronger cooperation among North-Central states, stressing that authorities must move from merely reacting to attacks to preventing them and addressing their sources.
The governor said insecurity in one state affects the wider region and urged neighbouring states to work together to protect lives and create an environment suitable for economic development.
Alia acknowledged the Federal Government’s response, saying additional military formations and security units had been deployed to areas experiencing repeated attacks.
He disclosed that a military division established by President Bola Tinubu would cover Benue, Kogi and Nasarawa, with its headquarters expected to be located in Makurdi.
According to the governor, troops would also be stationed in communities that have experienced persistent attacks, while other security units would be deployed to strategic locations.
On the role of the United States, Alia said:
> “The intervention by the United States was very, very helpful to us.”
The governor also addressed the debate over whether the killings in parts of northern Nigeria should be described as Christian genocide, noting that while there is broad concern over the scale of the killings, opinions differ on whether the violence specifically constitutes genocide against Christians.
Alia stressed that the immediate priority should remain protecting communities, preventing further attacks and restoring lasting peace across the region.