Benue State Governor, Rev. Fr. Hyacinth Alia, has dismissed the idea of self-defence as a viable response to the growing wave of insecurity and attacks on communities across the state.
Speaking recently during a live appearance on a televised program, Governor Alia said that while calls for self-defence may appear logical in the face of repeated killings, they could ultimately expose residents to greater danger.
“I think that would make some very good common sense,” the governor acknowledged. “But where you have people who just decide to wake up because of sentiments and emotions attached to what is happening with us and within us, I think we are rendering ourselves a bit more vulnerable — so I wouldn’t advocate for self-defence.”
Governor Alia, who has been under pressure over recurring attacks on rural communities, particularly in the central and southern parts of the state, emphasized the need for a more structured and intelligent approach to security.
He also advocated for a strengthened system of community policing, saying that local security personnel familiar with the state’s terrain and socio-political dynamics would be more effective in tackling the crisis.
