Benue killing driven by economic interests, not religion – Akume
SGF, Senator-George-Akume. Photo Credit- Vanguard
The Secretary to the Government of the Federation (SGF), George Akume, has declared that the ongoing killings in Benue State are motivated by economic interests rather than religious factors. The statement, made earlier today, challenges the prevailing narrative surrounding the violence in Nigeria’s Middle Belt region.
Speaking to the press, Akume, a former governor of Benue State, emphasized that the attacks and subsequent loss of lives are tied to economic determinants, such as disputes over land and resources. “Plateau and Zamfara states also suffer the same fate. These killings are economically deterministic, not religiously driven,” he said. He further noted the widespread impact of the violence, mourning the loss of “innocent lives—men, women, and children” as a shared tragedy for all Nigerians.
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The SGF’s remarks come amid heightened concerns over the security situation in Benue, where clashes between communities and armed groups have claimed numerous lives. Akume called for unity among stakeholders to forge a path toward lasting peace and extended condolences to the affected families, pledging that the government would not rest until justice is served.
The assertion aligns with a 2023 study from the Journal of Peace Research, which found that 68% of conflicts in Nigeria’s Middle Belt were linked to resource disputes, including land and grazing routes, rather than ideological or religious motives. This contrasts with the narrative often associated with groups like Boko Haram, which a 2021 UN report suggested were also influenced by underlying economic factors despite their religious framing.
Historical parallels were drawn to the 7th-century Umayyad Caliphate, where economic control of land was used to consolidate power, hinting at a long-standing pattern of resource-driven conflicts in the region. Critics, however, have questioned the government’s approach, with some social media users on X expressing skepticism about the economic explanation and calling for concrete action against the perpetrators.
As the situation develops, the government’s response and efforts to address the root causes of the violence will be closely watched by residents and analysts alike.
