Benue State Governor, Hyacinth Alia, has dismissed claims of religious genocide in the state, countering assertions reportedly raised by some US officials calling for Nigeria to be designated a Country of Particular Concern
Speaking at a consultative forum on the protection of Internally Displaced Persons (IDPs) and Forcibly Displaced Persons (FDPs), organised by the National Human Rights Commission (NHRC) in Abuja, Alia said reports suggesting religious or ethnic cleansing in Benue were misleading.
His remarks come amid heightened international attention over allegations of religious persecution and targeted attacks on Christians in Nigeria, with US President Donald Trump previously warning of possible military action over claims of Christian genocide.
“In my state of Benue, we don’t have any religious, ethnic, racial, national, or state genocide. We don’t have that,” the governor stated.
While acknowledging security challenges in the state, Alia stressed that these incidents do not meet the United Nations’ definition of genocide.
A former Catholic priest, Alia also rejected claims of jihadist campaigns in Nigeria.
“We do not have any jihad in Nigeria,” he said, adding, “If there were any, particularly in my state or any part of Nigeria, I would have been the first to speak out.”
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