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A prominent chieftain of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) in Benue State has launched a scathing attack on the decision to include Benue in any Northern security arrangement, describing the move as a fundamental betrayal of the state’s security interests and a complete misunderstanding of its unique challenges.
Speaking at a press conference in Abuja on Thursday, 4th December 2025, the PDP stalwart, surrounded by microphones from Arise News, Channels Television, and other major outlets, argued passionately that Benue’s security realities have little in common with those of the core Northern states. Behind him, a large banner bluntly declared: “Gov. Alia’s Inclusion of Benue in a Northern Security Arrangement – A Betrayal of the Promise of the State Security Outfit.”
The chieftain contended that lumping Benue together with states facing primarily insurgency and banditry issues ignores the specific nature of the security threats in Benue, which for years have revolved around farmer-herder conflicts, communal clashes, and cross-border criminality that require localized, community-driven solutions rather than a one-size-fits-all regional framework.
He accused the state government of surrendering Benue’s hard-won autonomy in security matters, pointing to the establishment of the state’s own security outfit as evidence that local stakeholders already have a clearer grasp of what works on ground. According to him, folding Benue into a broader Northern arrangement dilutes that initiative and risks subordinating the state’s interests to political considerations far removed from the daily realities faced by Benue communities.
The press conference quickly gained traction on social media, with the video circulating widely on Facebook and other platforms, racking up dozens of comments within hours. Many commenters echoed the chieftain’s sentiment that Benue’s problems demand tailor-made responses rather than being treated as an appendage of the North’s security architecture.
While Governor Hyacinth Alia’s administration has previously justified regional cooperation as a way to pool resources and intelligence, critics like the PDP chieftain insist that such cooperation must not come at the expense of Benue’s distinct identity and its proven community policing model.
As the debate intensifies, one thing is clear: the question of whether Benue truly belongs in a Northern security framework has become the latest flashpoint in the state’s already charged political landscape, with security, identity, and political loyalty all colliding in one explosive conversation.
