- Gunmen killed at least 15 people in Efeyi Ugboju, Otukpo Local Government Area, sparking intense political fallout and public outrage across Benue State.
- The Benue PDP and governorship candidate Michael Aondoakaa (SAN) criticized Governor Hyacinth Alia’s administration, calling its response to repeated community invasions weak, reactive, and ineffective.
- Governor Alia rejected the criticisms, accusing the opposition of “irresponsible” political profiteering off human tragedy while maintaining that security agencies receive robust state support.
A political storm has erupted in Benue State following the murder of 15 people in Efeyi Ugboju, Otukpo Local Government Area, as the opposition Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) and Governor Hyacinth Alia traded fiery accusations over the state’s deteriorating security situation.
Eko Hot Blog reports that reactions flared on Wednesday as opposition leaders condemned what they described as the government’s deafening silence and inability to protect rural communities.
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Benue PDP Publicity Secretary, Bright Antyo, stated that leadership requires decisive action rather than empty promises, lamenting that host communities remain vulnerable to constant invasions while official responses stay consistently weak.
Adding weight to the backlash, PDP governorship candidate Michael Aondoakaa (SAN), speaking through his media aide James Ian, accused the Alia administration of attempting to criminalize public criticism to deflect from its operational failures.
Aondoakaa noted that it is shameful for a government to view public scrutiny as a bigger threat than the armed criminals burning villages, displacing farmers, and slaughtering innocent citizens.
In a swift defense, Governor Hyacinth Alia berated the PDP and its political actors for using human tragedy to score cheap political points. Issued by his Chief Press Secretary, Kula Tersoo, the governor’s statement labeled the opposition’s stance as “irresponsible sarcastic profiteering,” stressing that bereaved families deserve unity and compassion rather than political games.
The state government insisted that security chiefs continue to confirm Governor Alia’s consistent logistical, financial, and operational backing for law enforcement, joint military units, and local vigilante groups tasked with restoring peace across troubled areas.
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