Governor Hyacinth Alia’s statement that ongoing violence in Benue State does not amount to genocide has sparked widespread reactions across social media, especially on X, where thousands of Nigerians weighed in on the comment.
Speaking at a consultative forum organised by the National Human Rights Commission in Abuja, the Benue State governor said the security crises confronting farming communities should not be mischaracterised. According to him, while the state has suffered years of deadly clashes between pastoralists and farmers, the situation does not meet the United Nations’ threshold for genocide.
But his remarks immediately triggered a wave of responses online, with many Nigerians expressing anger, disbelief, or cautious agreement.
On X, some users accused the governor of downplaying years of killings and displacements, arguing that victims and displaced families might see his comments as dismissive. A number of users posted photos and reports of previous attacks, questioning whether the government fully understands the scale of the devastation communities have endured.
Others, however, defended the governor’s position, insisting that the term “genocide” must be used responsibly and strictly within its international legal meaning. These commenters argued that mislabelling the conflict could further inflame political tensions or hinder efforts to find lasting solutions.
Some users also directed their criticism at the federal government and security agencies, claiming that both state and national authorities have not done enough to protect rural communities across Benue.
A few commenters called for independent investigations into the attacks, while others said what matters more is acting on the crisis rather than debating semantics.
Despite the polarising reactions, a notable segment of Nigerians on X urged politicians and stakeholders to focus on addressing the root causes of the conflict—land disputes, resource pressure, and the long-standing farmer–herder tensions—rather than engaging in public disagreements over terminology.
Governor Alia, a Catholic priest turned politician, maintained during his speech that the crisis, although serious, “should not be politicised” and must be understood within the proper context of UN definitions. He restated that Benue faces insecurity, not genocide.
Here are some reactions:
@ahilekashami
(Kashami): “On behalf of the people of Benue State, I strongly and completely condemn the statement made by Governor Alia claiming there is no genocide in Benue State. We reject that position in every sense. Such a statement is a betrayal of historic proportion. It insults the memory of our people buried in mass graves… The genocide is real. No governor can speak away the suffering and reality of an entire people.”
@ahilekashami
@MalcolmInfiniti
(malcolm omirhobo): “It is shocking, disappointing and utterly irresponsible for Governor Hyacinth Alia to stand before the world and claim that ‘there is no ethnic or racial genocide in Benue State.’ Such a statement is not only false, it is an insult to the thousands of innocent men, women and children massacred across Benue over the years… To claim there is ‘no genocide’ in Benue is not just a lie, it is a betrayal of the victims, a betrayal of history, and a betrayal of the Nigerian people.”
@MalcolmInfiniti
@BashirAhmaad
(Bashir Ahmad, OON): Highlighting the governor’s words in support, he shared: “‘We do not have any jihad in Nigeria, I’m speaking to you as a reverend father in the church. I’m speaking to you as a governor of a state. If there were any, particularly in my state or any part of Nigeria, I would have been the very number one person to make a noise.’ – Benue State Governor, Hyacinth Alia.”
@BashirAhmaad
@OkeStalyf
(Oke Umurhohwo): “Before you open your mouth to say there is no genocide, travel to Benue. Go to Plateau. Sit with those people and see what is left of their lives… What do you call it when specific communities are consistently targeted, and government fails to stop it? Let’s stop playing semantics. It may not be an official government policy but it’s an official neglect. That’s just as deadly.”
@OkeStalyf
@elnathan_john
(Elnathan John): “When Christian groups cry genocide, Abuja replies with arithmetic: others have died too. When Muslim groups cry murder, Abuja blames bandits or ‘foreign elements.’ The tragedy is managed by press release. No minister resigns; no general loses a pension. We mourn without consequence.”
