Alia, a Catholic priest-turned-governor, made the remarks on Wednesday, November 19, during a consultative forum on the protection of Internally Displaced Persons (IDPs) and Forcibly Displaced Persons (FDPs) organised by the National Human Rights Commission (NHRC) in Abuja.
The governor challenged assertions reportedly used by some U.S. officials to push for Nigeria’s designation as a “Country of Particular Concern,” a label typically tied to evidence of systematic religious persecution.
“In my state of Benue, we don’t have any religious, any ethnic, any racial, any national or state genocide. We don’t have that,” Alia said.
While acknowledging ongoing security challenges, Alia stressed that the situation does not meet any internationally recognised criteria for genocide.
“Do we have a number of insecurities in the state? Yes, we do. But it is not a genocide. Someone would need to check the United Nations definitions for this,” he added.
“There Is No Jihad in Nigeria” – Alia
The governor also rejected claims that jihadist movements are actively operating across Nigeria. He clarified that while extremist groups such as Boko Haram and ISWAP have ideological objectives rooted in distorted interpretations of Islam, these activities do not amount to an ongoing jihad within the country.
“We do not have any jihad in Nigeria,” he said.
“I’m speaking to you as a reverend father in the church. I’m speaking to you as a governor of a state. If there were any, I would have been the very number one person to make a noise.”
Alia explained that Boko Haram seeks to establish an Islamic state in Nigeria, while ISWAP aspires to a broader caliphate linked to ISIS. However, he maintained these ambitions do not translate into organised religious warfare in Benue or the wider federation.
International Attention and U.S. Claims
Nigeria has come under increasing international scrutiny after some U.S. officials alleged targeted killings of Christians. U.S. President Donald Trump recently intensified the debate after threatening to deploy American troops to Nigeria to “save Christians.”
However, Alia insists the narrative of religious genocide is unfounded, pointing instead to root causes such as banditry, resource-driven conflicts, and weak governance.
Multiple investigations — including a BBC review — found that some data cited by U.S. advocacy groups as evidence of genocide could not be independently verified.
Alia: “I Told the U.S. Embassy There Is No Genocide in Benue”
The governor disclosed that he had personally engaged with the U.S. Embassy to correct what he described as misleading portrayals of Benue State.
“It’s on the record that I had an interface with the American ambassador to let him know that both in Nigeria, particularly in Benue State, there is no genocide,” Alia said.
He reiterated that the UN definition of genocide does not align with the realities on the ground.
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