Governor Hyacinth Alia of Benue State has accused top Abuja-based politicians, including National Assembly members, of sponsoring reckless killings in the state.

Mr Alia made the allegation in an interview with Channels TV on Friday, days after gunmen raided communities in Benue State and killed scores.

“It is very, very unsettling because top politicians who are very functional and are in the National Assembly and are in Abuja, are the architects and arrowheads of not just instigating, but harbouring and keeping these people and feeding them in the bushes, and taking care of all their needs and buying all the other gadgets for them,” Mr Alia said.

The governor did not mention any names of top politicians he accused of sponsoring killings in the state. However, he condemned them, adding that the security of the people is his utmost concern.

“This is extremely unacceptable. If they do not love the lives of the people and they’re only fighting for their own position, I think I am serving the interest of the common masses, and it is a concern to me, and it is my right to protect it,” Mr Alia said.

In a recent report, Amnesty International said over 10,000 people had been killed in different coordinated attacks in the past two years.

The human rights organisation listed Benue and Plateau as the states with the highest number of casualties.

Last week, gunmen raided Gwer and Akpa local government areas, killing about 40 people. Following the attack, the police command in Benue redeployed area commanders and tactical teams to Apa and Gwer West LGAs.

The deputy spokesperson for the tenth National Assembly, Philip Agbese, did not immediately respond to Peoples Gazette’s request for comments on Mr Alia’s allegations.