Security of Benue people, properties, none negotiable – Mike Inalegwu

The Commissioner for Information, Culture and Tourism, Benue State, Hon Michael U. Inalegwu has said that the security of lives of Benue people and their properties is non-negotiable.

Hon. Mike stated this when he granted an audience to the Channel TV correspondent at IBB Square during the inauguration of the second batch of Benue State Community Volunteer Guards.

According to the Information Commissioner; “the government of Benue State under the leadership of His Excellency, Dr. SAMUEL ORTOM is aware of the pain Benue people are going through in terms of security Challenges and has come up with the formation of the Community Volunteer Guard to help the Conventional Security agencies on ground to safeguard the people from losing their lives and ancestral homes to the external aggressors”, he said.

When asked if the Volunteer Guards have the Capacity to withstand the invaders/armed herdsmen who are carrying sophisticated weapons, the Honourable Commissioner reiterated that, though the Federal Government is yet to approve the request of the state government of giving license to Volunteer Guards to use automatic firearms like AK 47, the people of the state know all the nooks and crannies of the various communities and will help the conventional Securities to identify the hideout of the invaders and armed herdsmen, making it easier to foil any of their attacks.

On whether the State government has the constitutional power to form any security outfit, Hon. Mike argued that, the right for self-defense is enshrined in the Constitution, allowing every state to provide security to it’s citizenry; “If the effort of the Federal government is not enough to safeguard our lives then, the state government have to complement the effort of federal government by forming security architecture that will make the conventional security formidable.

We cannot continue to be running away from our homes for anybody, the killings and burning of our properties must stop. We know the country is heterogeneous but you have to obey the law of the land. Ranching is the best method of animal husbandry and must be embraced by all asundry in order to protect the lives and properties of our people. Enough of unprovoked attack on our people”, Inalegwu maintained.

Inalegwu urged the newly trained members of the Community Volunteer Guards not to take law into their hands.

(Credit: Egahi Daniel)