Transparency International has alleged that Benue State Governor, Rev. Fr. Hyacinth Alia, received about N48.1 billion as security votes in the last 37 months despite the worsening insecurity and killings across the state.
The pressure group made the allegation in its quarterly report released yesterday and made available to journalists by its Country Director, Isaiah Ikubolaje.
According to the report, about N1.3 billion is allegedly being drawn monthly from the state treasury by the Alia administration as security votes, amounting to approximately N48.1 billion since the governor assumed office.
The group, however, expressed concern that despite the huge allocation, insecurity had continued to spread across the 23 local government areas of the state, with communities witnessing frequent attacks and killings.
Transparency International acknowledged that insecurity was not new to Benue before Alia assumed office on May 29, 2023, but alleged that the situation had deteriorated significantly under the present administration.
The organisation claimed that killings in the state had risen by about 70 per cent between 2023 and the present, attributing the development partly to what it described as alleged negligence by the state government.
It further alleged that some communities that had previously been relatively spared from attacks under past administrations were now experiencing what it described as massive killings.
The report particularly drew attention to incidents recorded in parts of Benue South, Benue Northwest and Benue Northeast, urging the state government to pay greater attention to the security challenges confronting residents.
The group said the increasing attacks had raised questions about the effectiveness of the security measures being funded through the substantial allocations allegedly received by the administration.
It therefore challenged Governor Alia to publicly account for the alleged N48.1 billion security votes and explain how the funds had been deployed, particularly against the backdrop of the worsening security situation.
Transparency International urged the governor to make the protection of lives and property a greater priority than political considerations, stressing that the people of the state should not bear the consequences of prolonged insecurity.
The group also criticised what it described as attempts by the governor’s media handlers to shift public attention away from the security situation, urging the administration to focus more directly on addressing the killings and protecting vulnerable communities.
“There is insecurity everywhere in Nigeria and even in the Western countries, but in Benue State, it appears that politics is being placed above the safety of the people by the present administration,” the report stated.
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