A fresh wave of violence in Benue State that left 15 people dead in Efeyi Ugboju, Otukpo Local Government Area on Tuesday has prompted a sharp public spat between Governor Hyacinth Alia and opposition figures.
The Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) and its 2027 governorship candidate, Michael Aondoakaa, criticized the Governor in separate statements issued Wednesday, accusing his administration of failing to protect citizens and of a concerning silence on the killings.
The PDP’s Publicity Secretary, Bright Antyo, said leadership “is not by words but by decisive action,” adding that residents are seeing neither decisive action nor empathy from the state government.
Mr. Aondoakaa, a former Justice Minister, accused the Alia administration of “criminalising criticism” to avoid accountability, saying communities continue to be invaded, farmers displaced and civilians killed despite official assurances.
Governor Alia, through his Chief Press Secretary, Tersoo Kula, rejected the allegations and accused the PDP and the African Democratic Congress candidate of politicising the security crisis.
Kula said the immediate needs of victims, “compassion, urgent action, and unity” should outweigh partisan point‑scoring.
Governor Alia’s handlers insist that the administration has provided logistics, intelligence support and coordination with local vigilantes and security agencies to restore order.
The exchange is indicative of political fault lines over security in Benue, a State that has long wrestled with communal violence and clashes between farming and herding communities.
Our correspondent gathered that the dispute may intensify as parties seek to frame responsibility for public safety ahead of the 2027 elections.
