Following the tragic wave of attacks that claimed over 200 lives in Guma and surrounding communities in Benue State, the state governor, Hyacinth Alia, has openly said “NO” to calls for self-defense by residents, advocating for the implementation of community policing as a safer and more effective alternative.
In a remote interview with AIT’s program Kakaaki, Alia addressed the urge among locals to arm themselves in response to the violence. “I should carry, and I think that would make some very good common sense,” he admitted. However, he cautioned that emotional reactions can make residents more vulnerable. “So, I wouldn’t advocate for self-defense.”
The governor emphasized that community policing—a system rooted in local knowledge and terrain familiarity—is the best path forward. “It’s only people from within the state and the local government who would understand what is going on with them,” he said.
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Alia also warned against the belief that “desperate situations require desperate answers,” noting that untrained individuals using weapons risk escalating conflicts rather than containing them.
He provided insight into the nature of the assailants’ tactics, stating they operate with guerrilla-style methods; they strike swiftly and disappear before law enforcement can respond.
He also raised concerns about internal political divisions within the All Progressives Congress (APC) in Benue. Disunity, he suggested, undermines collective efforts to address the security challenges.
Alia’s position is not in consonance with that of some civil society figures and local leaders who are advocating for armed self-defense, which they view as a necessary measure to protect communities at this moment.
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