By Mercy Aikoye
A chieftain of the All Progressives Congress (APC) and 2027 governorship hopeful in Benue State, Godwin Ityoachimin, has decried the continued brutal killings of citizens by armed herders. He described the killings as a “devastating blow to the collective conscience of our state and nation.”
Ityoachimin condemned the Benue State Government’s inability to protect its citizens, saying, “The silence, inaction, blame game, and now evident insensitivity from those in power amounts to complicity.” He added that when a government fails to safeguard lives and property, it loses its moral and constitutional legitimacy.
The APC chieftain also criticized the government’s response to peaceful protests by youths, saying, “This act is a shameful affront to democratic values and human dignity. A government that turns its guns on its own people while leaving communities unguarded against external attackers has completely lost the plot.”
Ityoachimin called for the establishment of a permanent community security force to protect citizens. He also suggested that the government institutionalize state policing by renewing constitutional advocacy for the creation of a Benue State Police.
“The use of technology-driven surveillance is important, as deploying drones in vulnerable communities will tackle the menace,” Ityoachimin said. He also suggested the establishment of a rapid-response system in rural communities to quickly respond to security threats.
Additionally, Ityoachimin recommended the creation of a Security Accountability Framework to monitor and report on security deployments and response times. “Government should take proactive steps like Community-Based Peacebuilding Initiatives to facilitate continuous inter-community dialogue, truth-telling forums, and mediation efforts,” he added.
Ityoachimin emphasized the need to enhance victim support and reconstruction programs, providing immediate relief, resettlement, and psychological support to survivors. “Let me make bold to say that our people cannot be silenced, and their blood will not be forgotten,” he said.
The APC chieftain urged the state government to live up to its promises to citizens, warning that history will not be kind to leaders who watch their citizens die in silence and turn weapons on those who dare to speak. “We must act now decisively and collectively to ensure this nightmare does not become our norm.”
