You Missed a Crucial Moment’ — Mkar VC Faults Alia for Skipping Abande After Deadly Attack
The Vice Chancellor of Mkar University, Gboko, Prof. Zacharys Gundu, has criticised Benue State Governor Hyacinth Alia for failing to visit Abande community in Kwande Local Government Area, where residents were recently killed in a deadly attack.
Gundu said the governor missed a vital opportunity to console grieving families and reassure residents that their lives matter.
According to him, although Governor Alia had promised to visit Kwande following the killings in Abande, he stopped short of the affected community during his trip, halting at Anwase instead.
“Anwase is not Abande,” Gundu said, questioning why the governor did not proceed to the actual scene of the attack where bereaved families were reportedly waiting for him.
He argued that failing to reach Abande — regardless of the circumstances — sent a troubling message to victims and the wider Benue public.
“If the governor failed to reach Abande, where the attack occurred and where the bereaved and affected people were waiting for him, he lost an opportunity to reassure them that their lives matter and that he is capable of protecting them,” he said.
The don stressed that Abande, despite its remote location, remains an integral part of Benue State and must not be treated as expendable.
“Abande, even though it is out of the way, is part of Benue. No inch of Abande can be ceded,” he declared, warning against any perception that insecurity or vested interests could lead to the community’s abandonment.
Gundu also raised concerns about what message the governor’s decision may have sent to residents of other vulnerable communities.
“If he was afraid to go to Abande, is he telling those living there that they are on their own?” he asked.
Illegal Mining and Insecurity
Beyond the visit itself, Gundu criticised the governor for failing to address the issue of illicit mining in Kwande, particularly in the Turan axis, which he described as central to understanding the insecurity plaguing the area.
He alleged that illegal mining activities have become intertwined with violence and criminality, accusing members of the elite of complicity in what he described as the exploitation of “illicit blood minerals” from Turan.
Describing Kwande as “the land of gold and the sacred land of the Tiv,” the professor warned that allowing the area’s rich economic and cultural heritage to be destroyed would carry grave consequences.
‘Denial Compounds the Pain’
Gundu recalled previous killings in Kwande and expressed sadness over what he described as official denial of past incidents, noting that dismissing such tragedies only deepens the pain of affected communities.
He also took aim at traditional rulers, elected officials and political appointees from Kwande who accompanied the governor on the visit but allegedly failed to insist that he proceed to Abande.
“If anyone from Kwande, whether a traditional ruler or an elected or appointed official, was with the governor and did not urge him to go to Abande to see things for himself, that person has failed the people of Kwande,” he said.
He added that it would be even more troubling if those leaders did not even consider Abande a priority destination during the visit.
‘Kwande Lives Matter’
Going forward, Gundu urged traditional institutions and political leaders to recognise that safeguarding their communities is a fundamental responsibility.
He also warned individuals benefitting from solid mineral exploitation in Kwande not to prioritise economic gain over human lives.
“Those profiteering from solid minerals in Kwande must realise that Kwande lives matter,” he said, cautioning that neglecting communities like Abande could have “serious and unfortunate historical consequences.”
Gundu concluded by stressing that the lives of Abande, Turan, Kwande, Benue and the Tiv people all matter, urging Governor Alia to reflect that reality in his actions.
“It is not too late,” he said. “History beckons.” Read More
