By Grace Ndi Bamaiyi
I watched Gov. Alia go on national TV to claim that there is no religious, ethnic, racial, national, or state genocide in Benue and I was pained. He even referenced the UN Convention’s definition of genocide, yet it appears he did not read that definition properly before going on air.
The UN Convention clearly defines genocide as “any act committed with intent to destroy, in whole or in part, a national, ethnical, racial, or religious group.” It does not set a minimum number of de@ths. It does not say it must be thousands. It could be hundreds, dozens, or even fewer, because what matters is intent, not numbers!
The Benue people are one of the recognized ethnic groups in Nigeria. Have they been repeatedly attacked, destroyed, displaced, and ki1led in large numbers from January 2025 till date? Yes, they have! Entire communities have been targeted, families have been shattered, lives have been destroyed! Months back, Yelwata in Benue state had over 100 de@d casualties from one attack alone! These are the realities on ground!
So what exactly is Gov. Alia talking about?
You claim to be a clergyman, have compassion and fear of God, hence in the right position to speak about this, yet you go on national TV and lie, dismissing the sufferings of victims of ethnic violence, some of who are living in IDP camps in your own state! That is not compassion, it is denial! This is one of the many reasons why clergymen should not be partisan let alone politicians.
Truly, it is not everything a leader should rush to say on national TV. We understand the need for political loyalty, and we understand the pressure to align with the administration you serve. But denying the obvious, denying the pain, the losses, and the de@ths of your own people, is an insult to your people, and to the families who have lost loved ones in the countless attacks this year.
Leaders must speak truth, not convenience. As a leader, if you cant speak the truth, then shut up! The people of Benue deserve honesty, empathy, and action, not denial.
I said what I said!
