Benue State Governor Hyacinth Alia has vowed that no part of the state will be surrendered to herders, pledging to defeat insecurity and protect the ancestral lands of residents.

Benue State Governor Hyacinth Alia has declared that no part of Benue will be surrendered to herders, as he vowed that his administration would continue to protect the state’s territorial integrity, lives, property and ancestral lands.

Alia made the declaration on Monday, August 24, 2026, while addressing stakeholders from the Katsina-Ala/Ukum/Logo and Kwande/Ushongo Jechira federal constituencies during the opening phase of his statewide thank-you tour.

The governor said his administration remained determined to defeat insecurity and safeguard the ancestral lands of Benue communities. He also reaffirmed his commitment to protecting lives and property while commending President Bola Ahmed Tinubu for measures aimed at strengthening the state’s security architecture.

Alia specifically highlighted the establishment and siting of the Nigerian Army’s 5 Division in Benue as a significant step towards improving security and strengthening the state’s capacity to respond to security threats.

He also assured traditional rulers of continued cooperation with his administration in maintaining peace, resolving disputes and mobilising their communities for development.

During the engagement in Sankera, traditional rulers, religious leaders, political stakeholders, elected representatives and other community leaders met with the governor.

The Tor Sankera, HRH David Sevav, appealed to the governor for the restoration of peace in the area, the resuscitation of the waterworks and increased opportunities for Sankera indigenes in government appointments.

In Kwande, Alia separately met traditional rulers, religious leaders and political stakeholders, urging them to sustain unity and cooperation in the interest of the state’s development.

He commended the traditional institution for its role in maintaining peace and resolving community disputes, while also acknowledging religious leaders for their contributions to peacebuilding and peaceful coexistence.

At a political stakeholders’ town hall, the governor urged leaders to place the interests of Benue above personal differences and work collectively to consolidate the gains of his administration.

In Jechira, Alia held separate engagements with traditional rulers, religious leaders and political stakeholders, reiterating the importance of unity, discipline and collective participation in the development of the state.

The statewide thank-you tour is designed to cover all 11 federal constituencies in Benue and provide the governor with an opportunity to engage directly with traditional rulers, party leaders, religious figures and community stakeholders. The published itinerary shows the tour began on August 24 and is scheduled to continue through August 28.

Former Benue Governor Gabriel Suswam, who accompanied Alia to Sankera, commended the administration’s performance, particularly its ongoing infrastructure projects.

Suswam also expressed the support of Sankera residents for the re-election of Alia and President Tinubu, urging stakeholders to maintain unity and cooperation.

The member representing Sankera Federal Constituency, Solomon Wombo, similarly called for political unity and grassroots mobilisation in support of the administration.

APC State Chairman Benjamin Omale thanked stakeholders across Sankera, Kwande and Jechira for their support and urged them to sustain the mobilisation ahead of the 2027 elections.

An APC leader in Kwande, Moses Ternenge, also expressed support for Alia, Tinubu and the party’s candidates in the 2027 elections.

The governor’s declaration comes against the backdrop of persistent security challenges in parts of Benue, with the protection of communities and ancestral lands remaining a central issue in the state’s security discourse.

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