Herder Attacks Ravage 17 Local Governments in Benue State, Displacing Thousands

The humanitarian crisis in Benue State continues to deepen as no fewer than seventeen out of the state’s twenty-three local government areas (LGAs) are currently experiencing incessant herder attacks, according to a recent report.

Dependable NG reports that the startling revelation was made by the Executive Secretary of the Benue State Emergency Management Agency (BSEMA) and Permanent Secretary of the Ministry of Humanitarian Affairs, James Iorpuu, during an interview with newsmen in Makurdi on Wednesday. Mr. Iorpuu painted a grim picture of the escalating security challenges in the state, noting that the devastating attacks have left hundreds of thousands of the state’s populace internally displaced, homeless, and financially incapacitated.

The BSEMA Executive Secretary highlighted the extensive nature of the crisis, listing only six LGAs as seemingly safe from the ongoing violence: Ogbadibo, Ohimini, Konshisha, Gboko, Ushongo, and one other yet to be specified. The scale of displacement across the remaining majority of the state’s administrative units underscores a catastrophic humanitarian situation that demands urgent and comprehensive intervention.

In addition to the immediate security concerns, Mr. Iorpuu addressed the perennial issue of flooding in the country, suggesting a long-term solution that requires federal government involvement. He stressed that without the dredging of the Rivers Benue and Niger, the problem of annual flooding will continue to plague the nation. He spoke positively of the recently concluded conference of State Emergency Management Agencies in Lagos, noting that the event successfully broadened the professional horizons of emergency managers across the state.

On political and administrative matters, the BSEMA boss gave a glowing assessment of the current state administration under Governor Hyacinth Alia, stating that the governor has performed beyond the expectations of many. He took the opportunity to firmly dismiss claims from an unnamed independent assessor who reportedly gave the Alia-led government a low performance rating.

Mr. Iorpuu offered financial prudence as a key indicator of good governance, asserting that “for the governor to have not borrowed money from any financial institution since assumption of office is a clear indication of purposeful leadership and accountability.” He further revealed the political commitment to the governor’s agenda, explaining that the “Divine Mandate” group, which actively lobbied for Governor Alia to contest the 2023 governorship election, is highly satisfied with his achievements to date.

Looking ahead, the Executive Secretary announced plans to launch the second phase of the “Divine Mandate” initiative towards the end of the year. The objective of this campaign will be to showcase the administration’s successes and position Governor Alia for the 2027 election year. Mr. Iorpuu concluded his address by issuing a cautionary note to the people of Benue, urging them to be mindful of those individuals seeking to pressure the governor into sharing state funds with a select few at the expense of the collective welfare of the populace, as reported by the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN).