Benue State Governor, Hyacinth Alia, has urged residents to refrain from taking up arms in response to the growing wave of violence plaguing the state, cautioning that such actions could escalate the crisis rather than resolve it.
Instead, he emphasized the importance of structured and coordinated security measures like community policing as the path toward lasting peace.
Speaking during an interview on Focus Nigeria, a programme aired on African Independent Television (AIT), on Tuesday, Governor Alia addressed concerns over citizens resorting to self-defence amid unrelenting attacks in several communities.
While acknowledging that the Nigerian Constitution permits individuals to protect themselves, he questioned the effectiveness of such measures when employed without proper training or understanding of modern warfare.
“Let me begin with my concerns. You need to be trained to understand the dynamics of fighting guerrilla warfare,” the governor said. “The Constitution permits all of us to defend ourselves, but to what extent?”
He warned that hasty decisions to confront armed assailants using crude weapons could worsen the situation. “I cautiously advise my citizenry that it is not advisable to simply pick up knives, machetes, and sticks to fight. There are ongoing conversations around community policing; I am one of the governors who projected it,” he added.
Governor Alia dismissed the popular notion that “desperate situations require desperate answers,” asserting that emotionally charged and uncoordinated reactions could lead to tragic outcomes. “You’re unprepared with arms and do not understand the dynamics of confrontations,” he emphasized, urging citizens to avoid rash actions that might expose them to greater danger.
Highlighting the benefits of community policing, he explained that the strategy allows for the involvement of people familiar with local terrain and cultures. This, he argued, provides an advantage in identifying threats and responding more effectively to security breaches. “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 said.
Alia also expressed optimism over the increased role of the federal government in providing intelligence support, which he said has significantly enhanced efforts to identify and apprehend the perpetrators of violence in Benue.
“With the federal government’s continued support now through intelligence finding and searching, I think we are going to do even more,” he said. “We will identify those people, apprehend them, and create a new narrative for our three local governments and, in fact, the state.”
He further linked part of Benue’s security instability to internal rifts within the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC), stating that the lack of unity among the party’s key figures has deepened the state’s political and security woes.
“There is another layer to the challenges we have in the state here. The non-cooperation of some so-called major stakeholders, the disunity and disharmony within the ruling APC camp in the state, is quite unfortunate,” Alia said. “There are some people who have been disgruntled and are yet to get back into the fold.”
According to him, President Bola Tinubu has already intervened by urging APC leaders in Benue to set aside their differences and embrace reconciliation for the sake of the state’s progress.
Governor Alia concluded the interview by reiterating his opposition to self-defence efforts that are not backed by formal training or legal frameworks, describing them as well-intentioned but ineffective.
He encouraged residents to remain calm and collaborate with government-approved security structures, assuring them that decisive actions were underway to restore order across the state.
What you should know
Governor Hyacinth Alia of Benue State has advised residents against arming themselves for self-defence, warning it may worsen insecurity.
Instead, he advocates for community policing and highlights federal government support in intelligence gathering. Alia also attributes some of the state’s challenges to internal disputes within the APC and calls for unity among stakeholders.
