Armed foreigners exploit porous borders to attack Benue – Gov. Alia

Benue State Governor, Hyacinth Alia, has said that the rising killings in the state are now being carried out by foreign terrorists and not only herdsmen.

Speaking on Channels TV’s The Morning Brief, the governor explained that many attackers do not move with cattle and cannot speak any Nigerian language. He said they are heavily armed and act more like terrorists than traditional herders.

Governor Alia added that President Bola Tinubu has not ignored Benue’s crisis. According to him, the Federal Government has been helping with security personnel and other support. He noted that due to this help, the number of local government areas affected by attacks has dropped from 17 to just three.

After recent deadly incidents, Alia said three federal security agencies were sent to the state, pushing the attackers out of some communities.

He expressed concern that the violence in Benue is no longer the usual clashes between farmers and herders. He said the attackers are now considered “armed herders” because of their weapons and tactics. He also warned that some locals might be helping the attackers.

“We have discovered that some people within the communities are aiding them,” he said.

The governor also blamed the poor security along Benue’s borders with Cameroon, Taraba, and Nasarawa for allowing foreign attackers to enter easily. He said these attackers likely come from outside Nigeria, and even if they have local helpers, they are not from Benue.

Alia also revealed he had shared intelligence with Governor Abdullahi Sule of Nasarawa State, confirming that foreign elements are involved in the attacks.

In June 2025, a deadly night attack in Yelewata left 59 people dead, including security officers. Other areas like Ukum, Logo, and Gwer West also suffered similar attacks in April and May.

These killings have caused national and international outrage. Pope Leo XIV described the Yelewata attack as an “act of extreme cruelty,” while political leaders like Atiku Abubakar and Peter Obi blamed the violence on foreign criminals.