Alia argued that resorting to self-help will make communities in Benue State more vulnerable to attacks.
By Kehinde Okeowo
Benue State Governor, Hyacinth Alia, on Tuesday advocated community policing as the best way to tackle the insecurity crisis rocking the state.
He made this known while featuring on Africa Independent Television’s programme, ‘Kakaaki’.
Alia, while addressing insecurity issues in his state, called on communities
affected by recent attacks not to resort to self-help or take laws into their hands.
Recently, Benue State came under heavy attacks from yet to be identified gunmen, who reportedly killed over 200 people in Yelewata area of Guma Local Government Area of the state.
After the incident, many inhabitants of the area pointed accusing fingers to armed herders.
Despite this, the governor warned that self-defence would make the communities vulnerable to more attacks.
Speaking during the chat, Alia said: “But where you have people who just decide to wake up because of sentiments and emotions that are attached to what is happening with us and within us, I think the rendering ourselves a bit more vulnerable — so I wouldn’t advocate for a self-defence.
“I would encourage us all to keep calling for community policing because it’s the only way
“It’s only people from within the state and local government who would understand what is going on with them.”
