Benue State Governor Hyacinth Alia has dismissed international claims that the ongoing violence in his state constitutes religious genocide.
Speaking at a forum organized by the National Human Rights Commission (NHRC) in Abuja on Thursday, the Governor, a Catholic priest, acknowledged the severity of the insecurity plaguing the state but insisted it does not meet the United Nations’ definition of genocide.
Governor Alia’s clarification comes due to global scrutiny of religious freedoms in Nigeria. Recent debates have been fueled by attempts from United States officials to categorize Nigeria as a Country of Particular Concern (CPC), a designation first applied under President Donald Trump’s first term and recently revisited in late 2025.
Benue State has been a flashpoint for violence since 2009, primarily involving clashes between nomadic herders and sedentary farming communities. While often framed internationally through a religious lens (Muslim herders vs. Christian farmers), local authorities and many analysts cite competition for land, water, and grazing routes as the primary drivers.
According to the Armed Conflict Location & Event Data Project (ACLED), more than 800 people have been killed and nearly 400 abducted in Benue over the past two years alone. An attack on Yelewata in Guma Local Government Area on June 14, 2025, left over 100 people dead.
Governor Alia revealed he recently visited the U.S. Embassy in Abuja to correct the narrative.
I made it clear that, particularly in Benue State, the situation does not meet the parameters of genocide
He rejected the investigation of BBC which found some data supporting genocide allegations, which he said could not be independently verified.
Governor Alia and the Federal Government maintain that the violence is a result of criminality, resource competition, and diverse security crises affecting all faiths.
International religious freedom advocates and some U.S. officials argue that the high number of Christian casualties in the Middle Belt region points to systematic persecution. They contend that the government’s inability to protect these communities warrants the “Country of Particular Concern” designation to pressure for greater accountability.
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