Gov Alia Orders Security Forces to Flush Out Terrorist Camps in Benue Forests After Fresh Massacres

Benue State Governor Hyacinth Alia has ordered security agencies to begin coordinated operations to clear out armed herder terrorist camps hidden in forests across multiple local government areas in the state.

The directive targets forests around Apa, Otukpo, and Gwer-West, areas that have seen a sharp escalation in violence over the past week. The governor’s order follows brutal attacks on communities in Edikwu-Ankpali, Ikobi, and Adija in Apa LGA, as well as Upu village in Otukpo LGA, where dozens of residents were killed.

According to a statement by the governor’s chief press secretary, Tersoo Kula, Alia described the attacks as “unacceptable and increasingly hydra-headed.” He said criminal groups have turned forested areas into operational bases, using them to launch raids on nearby settlements before retreating back into the bush.

“These criminal elements have exploited forested areas as operational bases to launch attacks, and must be flushed out without delay,” the statement read.

The governor mandated a sustained, intelligence-driven crackdown aimed at neutralising all threats and restoring confidence in the affected communities. He also confirmed that the state government is working with federal security agencies on the operation.

Alia commiserated with families who lost loved ones and said his administration would not relent until lasting peace returns to the affected areas. He urged residents to stay vigilant and share credible information with security operatives.

Escalating violence in Benue

The order comes against the backdrop of worsening insecurity across Benue. Earlier in April, the governor condemned an attack in Gwer-East LGA that killed nine people, describing it as “barbaric” and “a direct affront to the collective peace and security of the state.” The local government chairman, Timothy Adi, confirmed that attack happened on Holy Saturday, with invaders storming the Mbalom-Mbatsada-Agana community between 5 and 6 p.m.

The pattern is now familiar. Armed groups strike farming communities, kill residents, and retreat into vast forest reserves that serve as safe havens. Communities in Apa and Otukpo have been hit repeatedly in recent months, and the scale of the attacks has continued to grow despite repeated assurances from the state government.

Beyond the immediate security response, there are broader questions about the federal government’s handling of the crisis. The Tor Tiv, His Majesty Prof. James Ortese Iorzua Ayatse, recently told President Tinubu that some politicians want the Benue crisis to worsen so they can push for a state of emergency. The traditional ruler’s comment pointed to a deeper problem: the intersection of insecurity and political calculation.

For residents of the affected communities, the governor’s latest order offers a familiar promise. Whether this operation delivers differently from the ones before it remains to be seen.

Sources: Daily Post, Channels TV, TVC News, People&Politics, Idoma Voice, Eagle Online