The African Action Congress (AAC) has strongly condemned the violent suppression of peaceful protesters in Makurdi, Benue State, describing the government’s response as “state-sponsored brutality” and a “cowardly betrayal” of the people by Governor Hyacinth Alia.

In a statement issued on Sunday, Agena Robert Ande, human rights activist and Chairman of the AAC in the Federal Capital Territory, decried the violent dispersal of citizens who had gathered to demand an end to the ongoing killings in the state.

According to Ande, security forces unleashed “unrestrained violence” on the demonstrators, deploying armoured vehicles, helicopters, and tear gas to intimidate and disperse the unarmed crowd.

“This is a damning indictment of the government’s utter disregard for human life,” Ande said. “Rather than show leadership and compassion, Governor Alia chose brute force, ordering a military-style crackdown on peaceful protesters. It is a shameful, thuggish response to legitimate public outcry.”

Ande slammed Governor Alia for failing to engage with the protesters or condemn the violence they were rallying against. Instead, he accused the governor of opting for repression, further eroding public trust in his administration.

“Deploying such excessive force against unarmed citizens is nothing short of state violence,” he added. “It shows a complete lack of empathy and highlights the incompetence of a government that would rather silence its people than address their pain.”

The AAC leader linked the worsening insecurity in Benue to what he called the government’s longstanding failure to confront the root causes—particularly the repeated attacks by armed Fulani herdsmen on rural communities.

“For years, Fulani herdsmen have terrorised Benue communities while the government stood idle,” Ande said. “Governor Alia’s attempts to deflect blame are a clear sign that he lacks the courage and political will to face the real threat.”

He called on the governor to take immediate action, beginning with a public condemnation of the killings and the development of a concrete security strategy to protect lives and property.

“It’s no longer enough to issue statements after each attack,” Ande stressed. “Governor Alia must take full responsibility and coordinate with security agencies to craft a clear plan for the safety of the people.”

He also raised concerns about the suspected involvement of attackers from neighbouring Nasarawa State, urging cross-border cooperation to prevent further violence.

“Multiple victims have identified Nasarawa as the base from which some of these attackers launch their operations,” Ande said. “Governor Alia must engage with his counterparts in neighbouring states to shut down safe havens for these terrorists.”

Addressing reports of brutality during the protest, Ande condemned the use of live bullets and the manhandling of demonstrators.

“The accounts of peaceful protesters being beaten and handed over to police by government-backed thugs are deeply troubling,” he said. “This is a direct attack on the rights of citizens to express their grievances. It must not go unpunished.”

Although the exact number of arrests remains unclear, Ande reiterated that the people of Benue will not be intimidated into silence.

“Benue people are tired of empty promises and rising body counts,” he said. “They will not forget this betrayal. They will continue to demand justice, accountability, and real action from a government that has so far failed them.”

He concluded with a warning to the state government: “This crisis will not disappear through violence and denial. It will only end when those in power take responsibility and act decisively in defence of human lives.”

Olorunfemi Adeyeye, the National Publicity Secretary of the African Action Congress (AAC), has stated that Nigeria appears to have learned nothing from the political mistakes of 2015, warning that the country risks repeating the same cycle of leadership failure.

In a statement shared on his social media page Tuesday, Adeyeye declared that only the AAC offers a genuine alternative to the status quo, criticizing other opposition figures, particularly Peter Obi, for lacking clear ideological direction.

“Obi said he would do same things Tinubu is doing but in an organized manner,” Adeyeye wrote. “What is ‘organized manner’?”

The AAC spokesperson referenced a previous exchange with political activist Deji Adeyanju, stating, “This is what I meant when I replied Comrade Adeyanju Deji on the opposition debate.”

Adeyeye emphasized that being in an opposition party does not automatically make one part of the opposition, arguing that true opposition is defined by ideas and principles, not mere political affiliation.

“These guys are not opposing anything. Opposition is not being in another party. It’s about having an opposing idea and content,” he said.

He questioned the intent behind gaining political power without a clear ideological departure from the current system, warning against a repeat of past political cycles.

“Is the plan about grabbing power by any means, only to repeat what’s being done today? Just like APC did in 2015? That would only mean that we have not learnt anything.”

Adeyeye concluded by declaring the AAC as the only party offering real alternatives in today’s Nigeria, stating emphatically, “The AAC is the only opposition in Nigeria today!”

Kunle Wizeman Ajayi, former gubernatorial candidate of the African Action Congress (AAC) in Ondo State, has thrown his weight behind Omoyele Sowore’s recent critique of proposed political coalitions aimed solely at unseating President Bola Ahmed Tinubu.

Reacting to Sowore’s assertion on Channels TV, that such alliances risk simply recycling power within the existing political elite, Wizeman emphasized that any meaningful coalition must go beyond electoral calculations focused on individual figures.

According to him, the objective should not merely be to defeat President Tinubu at the polls, but to dismantle what he described as the “entire wicked ruling class” responsible for the suffering of the Nigerian masses.

“A real coalition should not just defeat Tinubu, it should defeat the whole wicked ruling class! That’s why we need a coalition of all oppressed people!!” Ajayi declared in a strongly worded statement.

Ajayi’s remarks has again shown growing concerns among activists and radical political actors that conventional political strategies often marked by elite negotiations and power-sharing agreements fail to address the structural issues plaguing Nigeria.

He called for an alternative coalition rooted in the struggles of ordinary citizens, workers, students, and the unemployed.

Kunle Wizeman Ajayi, former gubernatorial candidate of the African Action Congress (AAC) in Ondo State, has thrown his weight behind Omoyele Sowore’s recent critique of proposed political coalitions aimed solely at unseating President Bola Ahmed Tinubu.

Reacting to Sowore’s assertion on Channels TV, that such alliances risk simply recycling power within the existing political elite, Wizeman emphasized that any meaningful coalition must go beyond electoral calculations focused on individual figures.

According to him, the objective should not merely be to defeat President Tinubu at the polls, but to dismantle what he described as the “entire wicked ruling class” responsible for the suffering of the Nigerian masses.

“A real coalition should not just defeat Tinubu, it should defeat the whole wicked ruling class! That’s why we need a coalition of all oppressed people!!” Ajayi declared in a strongly worded statement.

Ajayi’s remarks has again shown growing concerns among activists and radical political actors that conventional political strategies often marked by elite negotiations and power-sharing agreements fail to address the structural issues plaguing Nigeria.

He called for an alternative coalition rooted in the struggles of ordinary citizens, workers, students, and the unemployed.