Ortom Accuses Alia of Politicising Benue Killings, Falana Demands Prosecution

The escalating violence in Benue State has reignited tensions between former Governor Samuel Ortom and incumbent Governor Hyacinth Alia, as well as calls for accountability from senior lawyer Femi Falana (SAN) and civil society groups.

Ortom, in a statement through his media aide Terver Akase, accused Alia of politicising security issues and failing to implement President Bola Tinubu’s recommended peace strategies. The former governor also disputed Alia’s claim that over four million people were displaced under his tenure, asserting that the figure remains at 1.5 million as handed over in 2023.

He warned that playing down the severity of the attacks by misrepresenting casualty and displacement figures only worsens the crisis. Ortom criticized Alia for offering contradictory explanations for the killings—blaming foreigners, claiming reprisal attacks, or accusing religious leaders—suggesting the governor either lacks understanding or is intentionally misleading the public.

Ortom urged Alia to act on the security blueprint President Tinubu offered during a recent visit and to grant Benue’s 23 local governments control of their resources, citing increased federal allocations and a Supreme Court ruling affirming local government autonomy.

In a separate statement, Femi Falana condemned both state and federal authorities for treating suspected perpetrators of the attacks with impunity. He noted that despite the arrest of over 273 suspects since December 2024—including those linked to illegal arms manufacturing and deadly attacks—there has been no record of prosecution.

Falana called on the Benue State Attorney General to commence legal proceedings immediately. He criticized Defence Chief Gen. Christopher Musa’s comments blaming locals for harboring attackers, describing them as an attempt to shift blame from security failures.

Meanwhile, the Alago Ikweyi Gbayi Development Union in Nasarawa State has appealed to President Tinubu to direct a physical boundary demarcation between Benue and Nasarawa states, especially in the troubled Yelwata area. The group disputed claims by the Tor Tiv that Tiv communities were being marginalized, stating that Yelwata has historically belonged to the Alago people.

Adding to the call for justice, the Gideon and Funmi Para-Mallam Peace Foundation, which recently visited the affected communities, condemned the attacks that claimed over 200 lives. The group shared harrowing survivor accounts and donated food, clothing, and N1 million to assist victims.

The Foundation’s President, Rev. Dr. Gideon Para-Mallam, vowed to continue advocating for peace and accountability, stating, “We will not be silent. Forgiveness is strength — but justice must be served.”