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The Governor of the State of Benue, Hyacinth Alia, has rejected a call that grew from the population to lift arms to defend themselves after a wave of deadly attacks that had made more than 100 people killed in that state. Conversely, he urged the community to support community police strategies which are strengthened as a more sustainable and effective solution for increasing insecurity.
Speaking during direct interviews at AIT News on Tuesday, Governor Alia acknowledged frustration and sadness throughout the state but warned of the reaction that was emotionally accused of being able to disrupt the affected community.
“I have to bring it, and I think it will make a very good common sense,” he said, offending the pressure on the population to arm themselves. “But where you have people who only decide to work because of the sentiments and emotions that are inherent in what happens to us and in us, I think we make ourselves a little more vulnerable. So, I will not advocate to defend ourselves.”
His comments emerged after the attack was coordinated by the alleged armed crowd in the Guma Regional Government and the surrounding community. The two-day murder reportedly claimed more than 100 people, although local sources were worried that the real victims might be higher. The attack has triggered anger throughout the country, with a new call for intervention and justice that is urgent for the victims.
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While acknowledging the tragedy scale, Alia stressed that deploying security personnel who were not accustomed to Medan who only offered limited assistance. He argues that only those who are embedded in a community that can understand and ward off the threat adequately.
“I will encourage all of us to continue to call for the police because it is the only way. Only people from within the state and local governments will understand what is happening with them,” the Governor stressed.
His position came in the midst of increasing pressure from civil society organizations, community leaders, and political figures – among them former Vice President Atiku Abubakar – who demanded the government’s actions that determine and prosecute the perpetrators behind the massacre.
Apart from the greater anger, Governor Alia urged the Benue population to remain calm and fight the call for violence of retaliation, while convincing them that efforts are ongoing to strengthen local security arrangements.
The attack once again highlighted the continuous conflict between the agricultural community and the armed shepherd in the Central Nigerian belt, and the urgent need for security solutions that was driven by localized intelligence. Governor Alia’s insistence on community -based police underlines a broader change towards the grassroots level strategy in overcoming rural violence throughout the country.
