Benue State Governor Hyacinth Alia said on Wednesday that there is no religious genocide in the state, countering a narrative pushed by some United States officials in the lead-up to the designation of Nigeria as a Country of Particular Concern.
“In my state of Benue, we don’t have any religious, ethnic, racial, national or state genocide. We don’t have that. Do we have security challenges in the state? Yes. But it is not a genocide. Someone would need to check the United Nations’ definitions for this,” the governor said.
Alia, a former Catholic priest, made the remarks at a consultative forum on the protection of the rights of Internally Displaced Persons (IDPs) and Forcibly Displaced Persons (FDPs) organised by the National Human Rights Commission (NHRC) in Abuja.
He also maintained that there is no jihad taking place anywhere in the country, despite the stated aims of the two major terror groups operating mainly in Nigeria’s northeast. Boko Haram seeks a local Islamic state in Nigeria, while ISWAP envisions a broader caliphate across West Africa aligned with ISIS. Both groups draw on distorted interpretations of the Quran that are widely regarded as lacking scholarly credibility.
“We do not have any jihad in Nigeria,” Governor Alia said. “I speak to you as a reverend father in the church and as a governor. If there were any, particularly in my state or any part of Nigeria, I would be the first to raise the alarm.”
Mr Alia’s remarks come as Nigeria faces international scrutiny over allegations of persecution and targeted killings of Christians. The issue drew attention before and after the United States designated Nigeria a Country of Particular Concern, amid threats — including from former President Donald Trump — to send troops to protect Christians.
The Nigerian government, top officials and many respected voices, including religious leaders, have denied that genocide is occurring in Nigeria. Although insecurity is widespread, the government says it is not directed at specific religious groups. A BBC investigation found that some data cited by US officials to support claims of a Christian genocide could not be independently verified.
Both Christian and Muslim civilians have been killed indiscriminately in Nigeria’s widespread insecurity, fuelled by weak governance, competition for resources, banditry and other factors.
Nigeria was first named a Country of Particular Concern during Mr Trump’s first term, though the designation was later lifted during the Joe Biden administration.
Interface with US embassy
Speaking at the event, Governor Alia said he had met with the US ambassador in Nigeria to explain the security situation in Benue.
“So it’s on the record that I had an interface with the American ambassador to let him know that, both in Nigeria and particularly in Benue State, there is no genocide — unless by my description — and the United Nations’ definition of genocide does not fit the parameters,” he said.
Since 2009, Benue State has faced persistent security challenges, including mass killings of several communities. According to the Armed Conflict Location & Event Data Project (ACLED), more than 800 people were killed and nearly 400 others were kidnapped in the state in the last two years.
On 14 June, a series of well-organised, precise and synchronised attacks on Yelewata in Guma Local Government Area killed more than 100 people.
