Only decentralised security can end Benue killings – Gani Adams

The Aare Ona Kakanfo of Yorubaland, Iba Gani Adams, has urged the Federal Government to decentralise Nigeria’s security structure, describing it as the most effective solution to the escalating violence in Benue State and other conflict-ridden regions.

In a personally signed statement issued on Friday, Adams strongly condemned the recent surge in attacks across Benue, which have left hundreds dead, homes razed, and communities displaced—instilling fear and instability across the state.

He attributed the unrest to several underlying issues, including clashes between Fulani herders and indigenous communities, inadequate policing, the widespread availability of arms, political instability, and deep-rooted socio-economic problems such as poverty and unemployment.

Adams noted that the incessant killings not only violate the constitutional right to life but also undermine peace, unity, and economic development. He stressed that the violence has crippled agricultural activities—the backbone of Benue’s economy—further worsening poverty and food insecurity in the region.

Expressing deep concern over the frequency and scale of the killings, Adams called for a robust and multi-dimensional response from the Federal Government to restore peace, safeguard citizens, and promote lasting reconciliation and development.

He also lamented the Federal Government’s reluctance to embrace collaborative security efforts, despite repeated appeals from local communities and initiatives by the Southwest Security Stakeholders Group in partnership with state governments.

“The time has come for a decentralised security system that empowers federal, state, and local policing structures,” Adams stated. “This is the only way to curb the senseless killings in Benue and other hotspots where innocent lives are being wasted by non-state actors and criminal elements.”

He further warned that unchecked insecurity could deter foreign investment, stifle tourism, and tarnish Nigeria’s global image and economic prospects.