The Benue State Government has condemned what it calls attempts to politicise insecurity, describing such actions as irresponsible and damaging to collective efforts to stabilise the state.
In a statement, the Chief Press Secretary to Governor Hyacinth Alia, Tersoo Kula, said the administration has prioritised intelligence-driven security engagement, supported security agencies within constitutional limits, strengthened community-based policing, and sustained humanitarian support for displaced populations.
Kula was responding to recent assessments by some governorship aspirants who reviewed the administration’s record as the state marks its 50th anniversary.
Five decades after its creation, Benue State’s golden jubilee has sparked renewed debate over its development trajectory, with contrasting views emerging from political actors and interest groups.
A coalition identifying as the Joint Kunav Governorship Aspirants, led by Paul Angya, has questioned the pace of progress, arguing that despite vast agricultural potential and human capital, the state remains among the least economically competitive in the country.
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They further contend that insecurity has persisted, claiming continued loss of lives across parts of the state and faulting the government’s handling of the situation.
The state government, however, rejects these claims, insisting that security challenges are being addressed through coordinated strategies, while humanitarian responses have been intensified for affected communities.
While urging increased support from international partners, the Kunav aspirants maintain that Benue’s 50th anniversary should serve as a turning point rather than a symbol of decline, as political debate over the state’s future continues.
(Editor: Ada Ononye)
