The Executive Secretary of the Benue State Emergency Management Agency (BSEMA), James Iorpuu, has raised alarm over continued herdsmen attacks across the state, saying 17 out of 23 local government areas (LGAs) in Benue are under siege.
Iorpuu disclosed this on Wednesday while addressing journalists in Makurdi, the state capital. He said that only six LGAs—Ogbadibo, Ohimini, Konshisha, Gboko, Ushongo, and one unnamed area—are currently free from violent attacks.
He revealed that the persistent violence has displaced hundreds of thousands of residents and left many financially helpless. “The scale of displacement and destruction caused by these attacks is beyond what we can manage alone,” he said.
The SEMA boss, who also doubles as the Permanent Secretary of the Ministry of Humanitarian Affairs, warned that unless urgent action is taken, the humanitarian crisis in the state could worsen.
He also called on the Federal Government to dredge Rivers Benue and Niger to prevent the recurring problem of flooding. According to him, the dredging of the rivers would go a long way in reducing the annual destruction caused by floods, especially in low-lying areas of the state.
Iorpuu made these comments shortly after attending a national conference for State Emergency Management Agencies held in Lagos. He described the conference as eye-opening, saying it helped expand the capacity of emergency managers in Benue.
In the midst of the security and environmental challenges, Iorpuu praised Governor Hyacinth Alia for his leadership and management of the state’s affairs, especially his ability to operate without borrowing funds.
“For the governor to have not borrowed money from any financial institution since assumption of office is a clear indication of purposeful leadership and accountability,” he said.
He dismissed recent reports from an independent assessor who rated Benue low in terms of performance under Governor Alia. According to him, such assessments do not reflect the true picture of what is happening in the state.
Iorpuu also mentioned that “Divine Mandate,” the political group that supported Alia’s emergence as governor in the 2023 elections, is satisfied with his performance so far. He revealed that a second phase of the group’s activities would be launched later in the year to prepare for the 2027 election cycle.
He urged the people of Benue to be cautious of those who are trying to pressure the governor into diverting public funds to a few individuals, warning that such actions would harm the larger population.
Iorpuu said the focus should remain on development and the welfare of the masses, rather than pleasing a few elites. He called for unity and support for the government in addressing the twin challenges of insecurity and humanitarian crisis in the state.
