Nobel laureate Prof. Wole Soyinka has cautioned Nigerian leaders against accepting foreign intervention in the country’s security challenges, warning that external involvement could further complicate the situation rather than resolve it.
Soyinka made the remarks at the Government House in Makurdi after a closed-door meeting with Benue State Governor, Hyacinth Alia. He praised the governor’s developmental efforts and recalled that during the previous federal administration, Benue had become a hotspot for terrorist activities in the North-Central region.
The renowned writer criticised former President Muhammadu Buhari, accusing his administration of failing to halt persistent killings in the state. He noted that he was among the few public figures who openly challenged government policies at the time.
Soyinka explained that his visit to Benue was also to follow up on educational materials he had donated during an earlier trip, when many displaced children were unable to attend school. He later toured Makurdi to inspect ongoing projects under the Alia administration and visited several internally displaced persons (IDP) camps to sympathise with affected families.
Addressing journalists, Governor Alia dismissed claims that he had denied the killings of Benue residents by bandits and terrorists. He said his comments had been misinterpreted and taken out of context, stressing the importance of understanding the proper meaning of terms such as “genocide.”
According to the governor, discussions around genocide must align with the United Nations’ definition and historical context, noting that the term is often used loosely without regard for its criteria. He clarified that his earlier statement about attackers “executing their plans religiously” was an idiomatic expression meant to convey consistency, not religious motivation.
“I never denied that my people were killed,” Alia said. “We are dealing with organised bandits and terrorists whose aim is land grabbing. This did not start as a religious issue.”
He explained that the crisis began as farmer-herder clashes before escalating into banditry and terrorism, affecting people across religious and ethnic lines. Attempts to frame the violence as purely religious, he said, were misleading and dangerous.
The governor urged journalists to avoid politicising the tragedy or amplifying misinterpretations, advising the media to seek clarification where necessary rather than inflame tensions. He added that every loss of life weighs heavily on him and called for sensitivity toward displaced families who have been forced from their ancestral homes.
Alia also highlighted ongoing development efforts, revealing that several major road projects in Makurdi had been awarded, with full construction set to commence following the completion of preliminary work. He commended Prof. Soyinka for his concern for the state and for visiting to assess progress firsthand.
Meanwhile, Minister of Information and National Orientation, Mohammed Idris, disclosed that a high-level federal government delegation to the United States, led by National Security Adviser Nuhu Ribadu, is actively countering what he described as misleading narratives portraying Nigeria as a country engaged in religious persecution.
Speaking on Channels TV’s Politics Today, Idris said Nigerian officials in Washington have met with senior US officials, members of Congress, and other stakeholders to present evidence-based accounts of Nigeria’s security challenges. He said the delegation has provided detailed briefings on counterterrorism efforts, inter-agency coordination, and measures to protect all citizens regardless of faith or ethnicity.
“These narratives of genocide are not only incorrect, they are dangerous,” Idris said, stressing that extremists have targeted both Christians and Muslims.
He added that President Bola Tinubu has strengthened Nigeria’s internal security architecture while expanding international cooperation on intelligence and counterterrorism. According to him, the delegation’s mission reflects the government’s determination to defend Nigeria’s image and ensure foreign partners rely on verified information.
Idris urged Nigerians to remain calm, assuring the public that the government will continue to tackle insecurity at home while engaging the international community to ensure Nigeria is accurately represented on the global stage.
