The All Progressives Congress (APC) in Benue State has sharply condemned what it calls the “barbaric” suppression of peaceful protesters by Governor Hyacinth Alia’s administration, following recent deadly attacks in the state.
Governor Alia himself is a member of the APC, having been elected on the party’s platform in 2023.
In a statement released Sunday, Daniel Ihomun, the State Publicity Secretary of the APC, voiced outrage over reports that mourners and solidarity protesters were allegedly shot at and dispersed under state government orders.
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Ihomun stated, “The All Progressives Congress (APC), Benue State Chapter, under the leadership of Austin Agada, expresses deep sympathy to the resilient people of Benue State who, faced with unrelenting violence and government silence, took to the streets in peaceful protest, only to be met with state-sponsored brutality.”
He branded the incident a “new low” for governance in Benue, lamenting that the very government elected to protect its citizens had allegedly turned against them.
The statement questioned, “What further proof is needed that the Alia administration has not only failed in its primary duty to protect lives and property but is now complicit in the suffering and silencing of its citizens?”
The APC further asserted that the escalating violence in Benue communities is exacerbated by the governor’s “deliberate inaction” and “glaring disinterest.”
The party accused the Alia-led government of failing to provide crucial logistical support to security agencies or collaborate with stakeholders to prevent attacks, despite receiving security votes.
The party also criticized the governor’s alleged dismissive attitude toward the crisis, citing previous comments where he reportedly referred to the killings as “mere skirmishes” and justified the presence of armed aggressors under ECOWAS protocols.
“This most recent assault on peaceful protesters marks a dangerous descent into authoritarianism. We hold the governor personally responsible for the worsening crisis and his administration’s silence and complicity,” the APC warned.
The party demanded the immediate release of all arrested protesters, an independent investigation into the alleged shootings, justice for the victims, and an end to what it termed a “culture of impunity.”
Meanwhile, the attack that triggered the protest occurred on Saturday, when suspected armed herders invaded the Yelwata community in Benue, reportedly leaving scores dead.
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