Scale Of Killings In Benue Underreported, Says Rep Ugbor

A member representing Kwande/Ushongo Federal Constituency of Benue State in the House of Representatives, Hon. Terseer Ugbor, has raised fresh concerns over what he described as “systematic genocidal attacks” in communities in the State.

Ugbor insisted that the scale of killings and displacement in the state has been severely underreported.

Speaking during an interview with Arise News Channel on Thursday Morning, the federal lawmaker referred to a recent visit by a United States congressional fact-finding delegation to Benue State, saying that emerging accounts from the mission aligned with longstanding complaints from stakeholders, religious leaders and affected communities.

According to him, widespread killings, land takeovers and mass displacement in parts of the State have persisted for more than 15 years, preventing thousands from returning to their ancestral homes.

The lawmaker said testimonies from the Tiv people, statements from the Makurdi Catholic Diocese, and evidence presented to the Presidency point to a coordinated pattern of violence.

“If the Bishop of the Makurdi Diocese himself confirmed that there is a Christian genocide in Benue, who am I to deny it? Our people have been killed, tortured and displaced for years,” he said. “There is a systematic genocidal attack against many communities in Nigeria.”

Ugbor warned government authorities not to downplay the crisis, drawing parallels with atrocities in Rwanda and Darfur where international intervention came only after mass casualties.

Commenting on a tweet by a US lawmaker, Congressman Riley Moore, who stated that about 600,000 persons were living in Internally Displaced Persons (IDP) camps in Benue, Ugbor said the figure may even be inaccurate and lower than the true scale.

He cited figures from the Benue State Emergency Management Agency (SEMA), which put the number of displaced persons at over one million.

“Many displaced people are not in official camps. They have moved into host communities and cannot be easily counted. The situation is worse than reported,” he added.

The lawmaker added that Moore’s assessment that large portions of land had been overtaken by bandits and terrorists reflects the reality residents face.

Ugbor blamed the insecurity for the sharp rise in food inflation in Benue, once known as the country’s food basket.

Ugbor also expressed displeasure that members of the National Assembly caucus were not invited to participate in meetings with the US delegation despite longstanding parliamentary engagement mechanisms.

However, he said lawmakers maintained independent channels with foreign partners and would continue to advocate for international support.

He noted that a documentary he sponsored early in his tenure helped to draw global attention to the crisis and could serve as a tool for mobilising support for rebuilding efforts.

The federal lawmaker further stressed the need for mechanisms to resettle IDPs and restore livelihoods, particularly agricultural activities.

“One of the outcomes we expect from engagements with the American delegation is a framework for raising funds and developing programmes to resettle IDPs and return them to productive activities,” he said.

He called for a tripartite security arrangement involving Benue, Taraba and Cross River States due to the border locations of his constituency, adding that recent deployments by the federal government have helped reduce the frequency of attacks.

Ugbor also addressed his previous rift with Benue State Governor, Hyacinth Alia, over seized palliatives delivered by the National Emergency Management Agency (NEMA).

He said he withdrew the defamation suit against the governor “to avoid distractions,” although the core issues remained unresolved.

Despite the incident, he said he has continued to supply relief materials to IDPs and supporting security efforts through donations to vigilante groups and mobile police units.

Ugbor urged both the federal and state governments to take the crisis seriously and avert a humanitarian disaster.

“We hope that collaboration with the American Government, the federal government of Nigeria and the Benue State government will bring lasting peace. The unity and survival of our people are paramount,” he maintained.