Benue State Governor, Hyacinth Alia, has dismissed the idea of residents taking up arms in response to recent violent attacks in the state, instead advocating for strengthened community policing efforts.
During an interview on AIT News on Tuesday, following deadly assaults across parts of Benue that reportedly left over 100 people dead, Alia called for calm and discouraged emotionally charged reactions that could worsen the security situation.
He emphasized that while the impulse to resort to self-defense is understandable, it could increase vulnerability if driven by emotion rather than strategy. Alia made it clear that he does not support individuals arming themselves in response to the attacks.
Rather, the governor expressed strong support for a locally driven security approach, insisting that community policing offers the most effective solution. He argued that only those embedded within local communities possess the insight needed to detect and respond to threats quickly and effectively.
The renewed violence, reportedly carried out by suspected armed herders, devastated Guma Local Government Area and neighboring regions, sparking outrage nationwide. Local officials believe the death toll may be higher than currently reported.
Read Also: Benue killings: Senate urges immediate national security dialogue
Amid calls for a state of emergency, Alia underscored the limitations of external forces unfamiliar with the terrain and local dynamics, reaffirming the need for grassroots security structures.
His comments come at a time of mounting public anger and growing pressure from civil society organizations and political figures, including former Vice President Atiku Abubakar, demanding swift and decisive action from the federal government.
