No Jihad, No Religious Genoc*de in Benue Alia Declares

Benue State Governor, Hyacinth Alia, has dismissed claims circulating internationally that the state is witnessing religious genoc*de or any form of ji@adist campaign.

Speaking at an IDP protection forum hosted by the National Human Rights Commission in Abuja, Alia said the reports pushed by some US officials were false, exaggerated, and misleading.

He insisted Benue’s security issues, though serious, do not meet the UN definition of genoc*de.

Alia, a former Catholic priest, also rejected allegations that jih@dist movements were taking over parts of Nigeria.

“There is no jihad in Benue or anywhere in Nigeria. If there was, I would have been the first to raise the alarm,” he said.



The governor urged both local and international actors to verify facts before making public statements, warning that misinformation could worsen insecurity and misrepresent Nigeria’s efforts to protect vulnerable communities.