Decentralised Security System Panacea to Benue Killings, Opines Gani Adams

The Aare Ona Kakanfo of Yorubaland, Iba Gani Adams, has said that only a decentralised security system can bring an end to the killings and ongoing insecurity in Benue State and other parts of the country.

Adams, who spoke on Friday, decried the spate of violence in Benue, describing it as systematic and targeted.

He said the persistence of killings despite federal security interventions shows that Nigeria’s centralised policing system is no longer effective and must be urgently restructured.

He stated, “The time for a decentralised security system that allows federal, state and local government police is now. We cannot continue with a unitary security structure in a country as complex and diverse as Nigeria. Each region faces unique threats that require tailored responses.”

According to him, the continuous attacks by armed herders, bandits, and other criminal groups in Benue, Plateau, and other states have resulted in the loss of thousands of lives, destruction of communities, and widespread displacement.

He added that the violence violates the right to life as enshrined in Section 33 of the 1999 Constitution.

Adams warned that the insecurity in the Middle Belt and North Central is worsening national instability, damaging food security, and crippling the economy.

He said Benue, being a key agricultural state, is critical to Nigeria’s food production, and the violence there poses serious threats to livelihoods and national development.

He linked the crisis to broader issues such as poor governance, unemployment, poverty, and the proliferation of arms, stressing that only community-driven and locally controlled security outfits can effectively address the problems.

“Nigeria is sitting on a keg of gunpowder. The blood of innocent citizens is being spilled daily, and it appears the central government is overwhelmed. The killings are too frequent and organised to be ignored,” he said.

The Yoruba leader called on the Federal Government to embrace a nationwide restructuring process, particularly in security, economic governance, and justice. He noted that true federalism would promote equity, strengthen democracy, and restore public confidence in government institutions.

His remarks come as calls grow louder from various quarters—including state governors, civil society groups, and traditional leaders—for the establishment of state and community policing to combat worsening insecurity across Nigeria.