A Catholic priest based in Gambia, Rev Fr Kelvin Ugwu, has asked Benue State Governor Hyacinth Alia to take strong action against the people responsible for killings in the state. He compared it to how the governor stopped Peter Obi from visiting Benue.

Fr Ugwu expressed his concern over the way Governor Alia often comes on social media to talk about people who were killed by suspected herders. He said this does not help and that the governor should focus on preventing these attacks instead.

His statement followed a recent attack where armed herdsmen reportedly killed over 40 people in Gwer West and Apa local government areas of Benue State. The attack happened on a Sunday.

Sadly, this was not the first time these communities have been attacked. Just about a week earlier, other nearby villages also suffered similar violence.

Fr Ugwu said many voters chose Alia to be governor because he is a priest, even though he is currently suspended. They believed he would act with more care and make a difference.

In a Facebook post, Fr Ugwu advised Governor Alia to stop reacting only after people have died. Instead, he encouraged him to take steps early to stop these kinds of attacks.

He wrote that it’s not helpful to keep posting about killings every week. Instead, the governor should share news about criminals who have been caught. He reminded the governor that just like he was able to block Peter Obi from visiting Benue, he could also block the killers—if he truly wanted to.

Fr Ugwu’s message reflects the frustration of many people in Benue who are tired of repeated attacks and want stronger action from their leaders.