Benue State Governor Rev. Fr. Hyacinth Alia rejects claims that he stayed silent about killings in the Ayilamo community in Logo Local Government Area. In a statement, he describes the allegations as “cheap blackmail,” arguing they are not based on facts.
The governor’s response is directed at comments credited to Dr. Terver Akase, a media consultant to the PDP governorship candidate. Alia says the opposition is trying to divert attention from his administration’s development agenda ahead of the 2027 elections, and he argues that critics should focus on fair assessment rather than politicized campaigns.
Alia also links the controversy to broader disputes on insecurity and governance. He accuses former Governor Samuel Ortom and the PDP candidate, Michael Aondoakaa, of failing to address insecurity during their tenure, despite the Open Grazing Prohibition and Ranches Law. He further criticizes the PDP’s claim about local government joint account systems. Both outlets report that Alia urges residents to disregard what he calls misinformation and says elections will be decided by voters rather than political statements.
