Reported by: Puis Althea | Edited by: Oravbiere Osayomore Promise.
The people of Otukpo Local Government Area in Benue State have rejected a ₦5 million donation and relief materials offered by Governor Hyacinth Alia's administration, declaring that improved security and protection from deadly attacks are more urgent than emergency palliatives. The rejection, which has ignited a political firestorm, came after suspected armed bandits launched a series of coordinated attacks across three communities in the area, leaving at least 20 people dead, scores injured, and hundreds displaced.
Senator Abba Moro, representing Benue South, described the governor's donation as "insulting" and insisted that victims need protection, not handouts. "The people told him they were not interested in the money. They are concerned about their protection," Moro said. He lamented that residents could no longer sleep in their homes, go to their farms, or engage in legitimate businesses because of persistent attacks by armed groups.
Residents of the Idoma extraction expressed deep anger over the government's response, noting that Governor Alia had approved ₦15 million following the killing of the Miyetti Allah Cattle Breeders Association chairman in the state, while offering only ₦5 million after more than eight Idoma people were reportedly killed. The package, which included the ₦5 million and 200 bags of rice announced by the Deputy Governor and the SEMA boss, was outrightly rejected.
The violence began on a Friday in Akpachi-Ugboju, where two persons were killed. It escalated on Sunday in Otukpo-Nobi with 16 persons killed, and another attack on Tuesday in Ondo Ugboju claimed two more lives. The coordinated assaults, which occurred over four days, have been described as an organised campaign against the communities. Homes, farms and other valuable property were destroyed, forcing families to flee their ancestral communities. The attacks have also forced farmers to abandon their farmlands at the peak of the farming season, raising serious concerns over food security in the agrarian area.
An editorial by Idoma Television sharply criticised Governor Alia for not personally visiting the affected regions. The editorial noted that barely 24 hours after the killings, videos emerged of the governor attending a public event in Abuja where he participated in traditional Swange dancing. Instead of a personal visit to comfort grieving families and reassure residents, the state government announced the relief package through the Deputy Governor. The editorial emphasised that the rejection was not primarily about the money but a deeper call for visible leadership, protection, and genuine empathy. Residents want assurance that killings will stop and perpetrators will be arrested and prosecuted, rather than just financial gestures.
The Senate, on Wednesday, ordered immediate security reinforcement across parts of Benue South. The Upper Chamber observed a minute of silence in honour of the victims and directed the Inspector-General of Police, the Chief of Army Staff and other security agencies to immediately deploy a heavy security presence to the affected communities. The Senate also mandated the IGP to launch a comprehensive investigation into the killings. Senator Abba Moro, who moved the motion, warned that the sustained violence was pushing the area toward a humanitarian catastrophe.
Moro expressed disappointment that intelligence was reportedly available about seven days before the attack, but the Commissioner of Police could not reach the governor despite efforts to alert him. "Our governors remain in the comfort of Government House issuing statements after attacks instead of taking steps to prevent them," Moro said. "For how long shall we continue condemning attacks instead of preventing them?".
The rejection of the government's donation has become a powerful symbol of the community's frustration with what they see as a reactive approach to security. As one resident put it, the people need soldiers and police, not rice. The Senate has now stepped in, but the people of Otukpo remain in a state of fear, waiting for the protection they have long demanded.
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