Benue villagers reject governor Alia in a viral video as death toll hits 55

A viral video has surfaced on the social media showing enraged villagers in Ukum Local Government Area of Benue State openly rejecting Governor Hyacinth Iormem Alia during his recent visit.

The incident occurred in the Sankera area, which has been plagued by deadly attacks from suspected armed herders and bandits. Economic activities have been grounded in the village, livelihoods have been dismantled and death toll from these assaults has now climbed to at least 55, with many more displaced and communities devastated.

In the footage, hundreds of grieving men and women could be heard chanting emotionally in Tiv, the local language. Their messages were clear: “Everyone with his relation should reject Fr. tell your relation that Fr. is gone”.

The chants which shows outright rejection echoed through the streets as locals demanded justice, safety, and an end to the bloodshed ravaging their communities.

The governor’s visit, intended to offer support and assess the damage, instead sparked further outrage. Villagers accused the state leadership of arriving too late and failing to take decisive action in preventing the continued attacks.

Tensions escalated so severely that some residents reportedly attempted to stone his convoy, forcing security personnel to intervene.

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The Sankera axis comprising Ukum, Katsina-Ala, and Logo LGAs has seen an alarming rise in violence, with entire villages being burned down and families decimated.

Survivors now face dire conditions, lacking food, shelter, and adequate medical aid. Many believe the government has abandoned them in their darkest hour.

Governor Alia, who won the governorship promising peace and security, is now under fire from the very people who once supported him.

Critics argue that his administration has done little to secure rural areas or respond promptly to crises. The emotional rejection by villagers reflects a deep sense of betrayal and a loss of faith in leadership.

The video has since gone viral, drawing nationwide attention and sparking debate over the worsening insecurity in Benue.

For the people of Sankera, the protest was more than just a rejection of a governor it was a desperate plea for protection and accountability. As chants of anguish echoed through the streets of Ukum, they left a haunting reminder that peace remains elusive and leadership, in their eyes, has fallen short.

Meanwhile, the Benue State Police Command had on Friday disclosed that five people in Ukum and 12 in Logo were killed by the assailants.

During his on-the-spot assessment tour of several affected communities on Saturday, Hyacinth Alia, the state governor addressed the tragic situation firsthand.

He visited the areas impacted by the recent events and interacted with residents to better understand the extent of the devastation.

Governor Alia, however confirmed that the death toll had unfortunately risen to 55. He expressed deep sorrow over the loss of lives and assured the affected communities of the government’s commitment to providing relief and ensuring their safety.

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According to him, the death toll in Logo was 27, while 28 deaths were recorded in Ukum LG as of the time of addressing the people.

He said, “Since these attacks started, we have recovered corpses. As of Friday, we received some and the death toll rose to 27 in Logo. In Ukum, security operatives have recovered over 28 corpses”.

He added that some families had buried their loved ones after being given cover by security operatives.

The governor, however, declared that the state was passing through “a real war” which could not be handled with kid gloves.

It was learnt that the affected communities have been deserted as residents have fled and taken refuge in Zaki-Biam and Ugba IDP camps.