Benue State Governor, Hyacinth Alia, has firmly rejected growing calls for self-defence in response to the persistent attacks and killings plaguing parts of the state. Speaking on Focus Nigeria, an African Independent Television (AIT) programme on Tuesday, the governor emphasized that untrained civilians engaging in armed resistance could escalate the already dire security situation.
- Governor Alia acknowledged that while the Nigerian Constitution permits self-defence, such measures must be approached with caution and proper understanding of guerrilla warfare tactics.
“You need to be trained to understand the dynamics of fighting guerrilla warfare. The Constitution permits us to defend ourselves, but to what extent?” he queried.
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He advised residents of Benue State not to hastily resort to weapons like knives, machetes, or sticks, warning that such emotional responses could lead to greater casualties and chaos. Instead, Alia advocated for community policing as a more effective and long-term strategy to tackle the security crisis.
“I cautiously advise my citizenry that it is not advisable to simply pick up knives, machetes, and sticks to fight,” he said. “There are ongoing conversations around community policing; I am one of the governors championing it.”
According to Alia, community policing initiatives would empower locals who are familiar with the terrain to work with security forces, aiding in surveillance, intelligence, and swift response to threats.
“With community policing, it becomes easier to identify those who understand the terrain and can be mobilised to join the ranks of the community police,” he explained.
The governor also praised the Federal Government’s support in strengthening intelligence and tracking down criminal elements responsible for killings and attacks in the state.
“With continued federal support through intelligence gathering, I believe we will identify and apprehend those behind these attacks. We aim to rewrite the security narrative in our three local governments and across the state.”
Alia further linked the political crisis within the Benue APC to the rising tension and instability. He lamented the disunity and lack of cooperation among key APC stakeholders, warning that such internal divisions undermine governance and peace efforts.
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“The non-cooperation of some so-called major stakeholders, the disunity and disharmony within the ruling APC camp in Benue State, is quite unfortunate,” he noted. “Some individuals remain disgruntled and have yet to rejoin the fold.”
He said President Bola Ahmed Tinubu has called for reconciliation among APC leaders in the state to promote peace and development.
Governor Alia concluded by reiterating that self-defence should not be romanticized, stating that while understandable, it is an emotional and ineffective response to insecurity.
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