By Udume Chibueze
Abuja, Nigeria: Rt. Hon. Chief Dr. Philip Agbese, Deputy Spokesman of the 10th House of Representatives and Okanga 1 of the Agila Kingdom, has decried the worsening state of insecurity in Benue State, blaming the escalation on the state government’s prolonged denial of the crisis.
Speaking to journalists on Channels TV’s Sunrise Daily in Abuja on Monday, Agbese revealed that the security situation in Benue had been deteriorating long before the current administration took office in 2023 but worsened due to the state government’s refusal to acknowledge the extent of the problem.
“When we came on board in 2023, over 80 percent of us were new lawmakers elected under the same political party. As representatives of the people, we conducted assessments across various constituencies and compiled a comprehensive report on the insecurity ravaging the state,” Agbese said.
He explained that the report was submitted to Governor Hyacinth Alia and also presented on the floor of the National Assembly, alongside formal communications with security agencies and relevant government bodies.
“Unfortunately, although the governor received the report and promised to pray about the situation, no concrete action followed. Instead, we were met with consistent denial from the state government, even as lives were being lost daily,” Agbese stated.
According to him, efforts by members of the National Assembly to engage federal authorities eventually led to President Bola Ahmed Tinubu directing security agencies to take action. However, conflicting narratives between the federal and state governments created delays.
“At every point, while we informed the federal government that our people were being killed, the state government kept insisting that there was no crisis or that the people were killing themselves,” he lamented.
Agbese welcomed the recent visit by the National Security Adviser and expressed hope that it would mark a turning point in the government’s response to the crisis.
“We thank God it is not too late. His Excellency has now acknowledged the gravity of the situation, though many lives have already been lost across the 23 local government areas,” he said.
The lawmaker called for full cooperation with the military and other security agencies, pledging the support of parliamentarians to ensure a swift and lasting resolution.
“With unity of purpose and coordinated efforts, we believe we can restore peace to Benue State,” Agbese concluded.
Insecurity: Governor Alia Failed Benue People, Says Rep. Philip Agbese
Deputy Spokesman of the 10th House of Representatives, Rt. Hon. Chief Dr. Philip Agbese, has faulted Governor Hyacinth Alia for what he described as a failure to act promptly in addressing the escalating insecurity in Benue State.
Speaking to journalists in Abuja on Monday, Agbese was asked directly whether he was blaming the governor for the latest wave of violence. In response, the lawmaker stopped short of an outright accusation but made his position clear.
“It would be unfair for me to stand before Nigerians and say things that are not true or clear,” Agbese said. “But I believe it is left for Nigerians to judge, based on what I’ve shared.”
According to him, the state government had been warned about rising tensions and attacks in various constituencies, but failed to act in time. He emphasized that if Governor Alia had taken the necessary steps earlier, many of the recent killings could have been prevented.
“We are all members of the All Progressives Congress. When we saw the early signs of insecurity spreading from different parts of the state, we drew His Excellency’s attention to it. Had we acted swiftly, some of the people who lost their lives would still be with us today,” he said.
Agbese called for compensation to be given to affected families and urged the state government to collaborate more effectively with federal security agencies.
“Now is the time to correct those failures. The state government must consider organizing compensation for families that have lost loved ones and work directly with federal authorities to decisively end this crisis,” he added.
The lawmaker concluded by stating that honesty was needed at all levels of leadership and called on Governor Alia to acknowledge the lapses and take urgent corrective steps.
“If we are being honest—including His Excellency—we must admit that the people of Benue were failed in this regard. But it’s not too late to fix it.”
Agbese’s remarks come amid renewed efforts by the Federal Government, including the recent involvement of the National Security Adviser, to tackle the security crisis in Benue State.
Breaking News: Rt. Hon. Chief Dr. Philip Agbese Addresses Security Issues in Benue State
Rt. Hon. Chief Dr. Philip Agbese, the Deputy Spokesman of the 10th House of Representatives, addressed the escalating security concerns in Benue State. His comments came as questions were raised about the political dynamics and the impact of the rift between Governor Hyacinth Alia and the SGF, George Akume, on the state’s security situation.
In his response, Agbese emphasized that the attackers in the state are not selective in their victims, disregarding political affiliations, religion, or tribe.
“The people who come to kill don’t care whether you’re from the APC or PDP. They kill indiscriminately. The real issue here is not the political rift but the lack of effective action and leadership,” Agbese stated firmly.
He pointed out that despite the security challenges in Benue, internal conflicts at the political level had hampered the necessary response from the state government. Agbese revealed that he and other members of the National Assembly had presented the issue to the Chief of Defense Staff, but reports on the situation were often conflicting, with local government and state authorities downplaying the severity of the crisis.
Addressing the situation further, Agbese called for an end to politicizing security matters, noting that when the former presidential candidate of the Labour Party, Peter Obi, attempted to visit displaced persons in Benue, the state government blocked his visit due to political differences.
“We must put the lives of our people above politics,” Agbese said, adding that the people of Benue need action, not political maneuvering.
Despite his criticism of the state government’s handling of the crisis, Agbese remained hopeful. “I believe that the recent visit by the National Security Adviser will help bridge the gap between the federal and state governments and lead to better cooperation,” he said. He urged both the state and federal governments to work together, putting aside their differences to tackle the ongoing security challenges.
Agbese reiterated that the security of Benue State should not be about personal or political gains, but about fulfilling the promise to protect the lives and property of the people. He concluded by urging the state government to take immediate steps to address the insecurity plaguing the region and expressed confidence that collaborative efforts could lead to meaningful change.
