Benue State Governor, Hyacinth Alia, has dismissed claims that religious genocide is occurring in the state, responding to reports reportedly raised by some US officials calling for Nigeria to be designated a Country of Particular Concern.
Speaking at a National Human Rights Commission (NHRC) forum in Abuja on the protection of Internally Displaced Persons (IDPs) and Forcibly Displaced Persons (FDPs), Alia said reports suggesting religious or ethnic cleansing in Benue were misleading.
His comments come amid heightened international attention over allegations of attacks targeting Christians, with US President Donald Trump previously warning of potential military action over claims of Christian genocide.
“In Benue State, we don’t have any religious, ethnic, racial, national, or state genocide. That is not happening,” the governor said.
While acknowledging the state faces security challenges, Alia stressed that these incidents do not meet the United Nations’ definition of genocide.
A former Catholic priest, he also rejected claims that jihadist campaigns are underway in Nigeria, despite the known ambitions of Boko Haram and the Islamic State West Africa Province (ISWAP) to enforce extremist Islamic rule.
“We do not have any jihad in Nigeria,” Alia said. “If there were any, particularly in my state or anywhere in the country, I would be the first to speak out.”
