A northern group, Arewa Think Tank (ATT), has tackled a senior lawyer who called for a declaration of state of emergency in Benue State due to seemingly unending killing of citizens by herders in the area.
Following the continued security challenges in the state, a Senior Advocate of Nigeria (SAN), Professor Sabastine Hon had asked President Bola Tinubu to declare a state of emergency to save lives in the state.
However, a statement by the convener of ATT, Muhammad Alhaji Yakubu, said the lawyer’s call for a state of emergency was too hasty and sentimental, coming at a time the state governor, Hyacinth Alia and President Bola Tinubu are collaborating to restore enduring peace in the State.
“Inasmuch as we feel the pains of the government and people of Benue State over the constant killings of citizens in the state, we will not like to buy into the idea of calling for the state of emergency in the state.
”We will rather call for security beef-up against these invaders from attacking hapless citizens of the State because the state of emergency is retrogressive under a democratic setting.
”We are happy that the state governor, Rev. Fr. Hyacinth Alia is on top of the situation while the security operatives are working round the clock to wipe out these murderers.
“However, we wish to advise that there should be immediate withdrawal of all the security operatives in Benue and replace them with new ones as a way of checkmating their excesses in favour of one party against the other.
“We believe that the situation has come under control, and the situation is not deteriorating as some people are trying to paint to the whole world. But to us, anyone justifying the alleged unwillingness of Governor Alia to address the matter is embarrassing.
“We also wish to kick against several online allegations of the complicity of the military in the attacks, because accusing the military of complicity will not solve any problem, but it is good to cooperate with them to keep the situation under control.
“The good news is that the Chief of Army Staff (COAS), Lt. Gen. Olufemi Oluyede, has moved to Makurdi, the capital of Benue State, in response to the ongoing killings of innocent villagers by herders and militia groups.
“The COAS who was accompanied by top officials from Army Headquarters, arrived from Abuja on Tuesday to assess the deteriorating security situation in the state.
“This is, no doubt, a very good development as his visit comes in response to the wave of violent attacks by suspected herdsmen and armed militias, which have left scores dead, several injured or maimed, and countless homes and farmlands destroyed especially the attack that took place about two days ago,” the statement read.
