Benue State Governor Rev. Fr. Hyacinth Alia has strongly discouraged residents from taking up arms for self-protection, despite the recent massacre of over 100 people by suspected armed herders, warning that such actions could make communities more vulnerable to attacks.
Speaking during a Tuesday interview on AIT News, Governor Alia addressed mounting calls for self-defense following the devastating wave of killings across Guma and neighboring local government areas, urging citizens to avoid emotionally driven responses that could worsen the security situation.
The governor acknowledged the understandable desire for self-protection but cautioned against hasty decisions that could prove counterproductive in the long term. “I should carry, and I think that would make some very good common sense,” Alia said, referring to the option of bearing arms for protection. “But where you have people who just decide to work up because of sentiments and emotions that are attached to what is happening with us and within us, I think we’re rendering ourselves a bit more vulnerable. So, I wouldn’t advocate for self-defense.”
His remarks come as grief-stricken communities grapple with the aftermath of a two-day coordinated assault that local leaders say may have claimed even more lives than the reported death toll of over 100 people. The attacks have sparked widespread anger and frustration among residents who feel abandoned by conventional security forces.
Instead of individual armament, Governor Alia advocated for strengthening community policing structures as a more effective approach to addressing the state’s unique security challenges. He argued that local security arrangements would be better equipped to understand and respond to the specific dynamics driving violence in Benue communities.
“I would encourage us all to keep calling for community policing because it’s the only way,” the governor stated. “It’s only people from within the state and the local government who would understand what is going on with them.”
The governor’s stance against self-defense puts him at odds with growing sentiment among residents who feel compelled to protect themselves and their families in the absence of adequate security coverage from government forces. Many communities have expressed frustration over the apparent inability of external security personnel to prevent or respond effectively to attacks in remote areas.
Governor Alia emphasized that while the desire for self-protection is natural and understandable, emotion-driven decisions to arm civilians could create additional security complications and potentially escalate conflicts rather than resolve them.
The renewed violence has drawn condemnation from prominent political figures, including former Vice President Atiku Abubakar, who joined civil society groups in demanding urgent federal intervention and more proactive security measures to protect vulnerable communities.
The governor’s position reflects the complex challenge facing state leaders who must balance acknowledging citizens’ legitimate security concerns while preventing the proliferation of arms that could transform farmer-herder conflicts into broader communal violence.
As pressure mounts for immediate action to protect lives and property, Governor Alia’s call for restraint from self-defense measures will likely face resistance from communities that have repeatedly suffered attacks with limited protection from conventional security forces.
The ongoing crisis highlights the urgent need for effective security solutions that can address both the immediate threat to lives and the underlying causes of violence that have plagued Benue State for years.
