Governor Sule rejects Benue killings, land grab claims

Nkrumah Bankong-Obi/Lafia

Nasarawa State Governor, Engr. Abdullahi Sule, has firmly rejected claims that his administration is complicit in the ongoing killings in neighbouring Benue State or involved in land grabbing.

The allegations, made by prominent Benue figures, including Professor Zachary Anger Gundu, former Pro-Chancellor of Benue State University, Makurdi, were described as baseless and malicious.

Speaking through his Chief Press Secretary, Ibrahim Addra, during a press conference in Lafia on Wednesday, Sule addressed a viral video in which Gundu accused him of “masking the killings in Benue State” and “forcefully taking farmlands belonging to the Tiv people of Nasarawa State and handing them over to Fulani herdsmen.”

Sule expressed dismay at the claims, particularly from a respected figure like Gundu, emphasizing his commitment to peace as Chairman of the North-Central Governors Forum.

“It is disheartening that stakeholders who should foster peace are spreading unfounded allegations that threaten the fragile stability between Nasarawa and Benue,” Addra said on behalf of Sule.

He challenged Gundu to provide empirical evidence of the alleged killer herdsmen camps in Nasarawa and any land seizures, warning that legal action would be pursued if the claims remain unsubstantiated.

Sule reiterated that no Fulani individuals or groups have approached his administration for land, nor has any land been forcibly taken.

He described the accusations as attempts to tarnish his reputation and undermine regional peace efforts.

The governor highlighted his proactive security measures, including regular collaboration with Benue and other neighboUring states, and urged accusers to share actionable intelligence with security agencies rather than spreading unverified claims.

As Chairman of the North-Central Governors Forum, Sule emphasized his ongoing efforts to promote dialogue and cooperation to address security challenges across the region.

He reaffirmed his administration’s commitment to safeguarding lives and property in Nasarawa while fostering peaceful coexistence with Benue.

The governor called on the public to disregard the allegations and support collaborative efforts to restore peace, warning that inflammatory statements risk escalating tensions in the region.