Terrorists Attacking Benue Are Foreigners, Speak Strange Fulani – Gov Alia Claims

Benue State Governor, Hyacinth Alia, has claimed that recent violent attacks in the state are being carried out by foreign militants, not Nigerian citizens. Speaking on Politics Today, a Channels Television programme aired Tuesday, the governor said the assailants appear to be from Mali and exhibit unfamiliar behaviors and languages, unlike traditional Fulani herders known in Nigeria.

“These people do not resemble Nigerians,” Governor Alia stated. “We know the ethnicities of Nigerians — we can identify a Fulani man, a Yoruba man, a Hausa man. But these attackers come armed with AK-47s and 49s, and they speak strange dialects, including a different version of Hausa. Locals who understand their speech say they claim to be Malians.”

The governor described the current wave of violence as the “second phase” of attacks in the state, noting a stark contrast from earlier incidents involving traditional herders.

“What we are experiencing now has a strange, more alarming face. The attackers are well-armed, coordinated, and they strike and disappear. These are not the same people we used to deal with,” he added.

Alia highlighted the strategic risks posed by Benue’s location, noting that some local government areas share porous borders with Cameroon. Intelligence reports, he said, suggest the existence of terrorist hideouts in neighbouring Taraba and Nasarawa states, as well as regions across the Cameroon border.

Rising Death Toll and Escalating Attacks

Governor Alia’s remarks came days after the Benue State Police Command confirmed the killing of 17 individuals in coordinated attacks on Logo and Ukum local government areas.

In a statement issued by the Police Command spokesperson, Catherine Anene, a group of armed militants stormed the Sankera axis on April 17, attacking communities in Gbagir (Ukum LGA) and Katsina-Ala (Logo LGA).

“Tactical teams deployed under the directive of Commissioner of Police CP Steve H. Yabanet engaged the attackers,” Anene said. “During the confrontation, the assailants fired indiscriminately at unsuspecting farmers. Twelve people were killed in Logo before police arrived, while five more from Gbagir died later in hospital.”

Anene further cautioned the public against spreading misinformation on social media, warning that unverified reports could incite panic and deepen tensions. She reaffirmed the Command’s commitment to ending the violence, urging locals to cooperate with security forces.

Displacement and Crisis

Benue State has remained one of Nigeria’s most volatile regions, with frequent deadly clashes blamed on armed herders and militia groups. According to a report by SBM Intelligence, over 300,000 people have been displaced due to ongoing conflict in the state.

Governor Alia concluded his remarks with a call for urgent national attention: “These are terrorists. We are under siege. And the nation must help us stop them.”