Catholic Priest Faults Gov. Alia’s Comment on Genocide

A Catholic priest, Fr. Atama, has sharply criticised Benue State Governor Hyacinth Alia’s recent dismissal of allegations of genocide in the state, describing the governor’s stance as “politics taken too far.”

In a strongly worded note, Fr. Atama said the governor’s remarks undermine the severity of ongoing violence in Benue communities. “The Church, which teaches that priests should not engage in partisan politics, is wiser than many think. I wonder when killings will be large enough to be termed genocide. This is politics taken too far,” he wrote.

The priest stressed that the Catholic Church remains firm in its defence of human life, from conception to death, and warned that downplaying the scale of violence does not align with the Church’s values. “The Catholic Church, by her nature, is pro-life. Life is valued from conception to death,” he said.

While expressing personal affection for the governor, who is also a Catholic priest, Fr. Atama maintained that the governor’s position on the matter was unacceptable. “I love Fr. Alia as a person. However, this one no enter,” he added.

The comments come amid renewed debate over the classification of attacks in Benue and other parts of the Middle Belt, with some international voices calling for greater scrutiny of alleged targeted killings.