A former Benue State governorship aspirant on the platform of the All Progressives Congress (APC), Jeffrey Kuraun, has condemned Governor Hyacinth Alia’s handling of the growing killings in the state.
Kuraun described the situation as alarming and tragic, considering the scale of resources available to the state. He insisted that the deaths require more than just messages of sympathy or promises; it demanded decisive action from the state’s leadership.
He called on Governor Alia, a clergyman-turned politician, to show strong leadership in protecting the people of Benue from further attacks.
“Benue cannot continue to suffer avoidable bloodshed while receiving the largest allocation for security in the country. The security vote must translate into a security impact. Security funds are meant to be used for operational intelligence, local law enforcement, community policing, and proactively neutralizing threats,” Kuraun said in a Sunday statement titled “Accountability over Excuses, Benue Must Lead the Security Response.”
He raised questions about how more than N3 billion is received by the state every month for security, yet communities remain vulnerable and exposed to attacks.
“It is not enough to blame federal agencies, neighboring states, or past governments. The first responsibility lies with the current custodians of power in Benue. There should be a clear demonstration of leadership and political will to resolve the crisis.”
He insisted that the state must implement a coordinated, local solution by engaging traditional rulers, community leaders, and vigilante groups.
“Training community policing units and securing collaboration with federal agencies will help keep the people of Benue safe. There should be a public audit of how the security vote is spent to rebuild the people’s trust and assure them their resources are not misused.”
He demanded greater transparency in the utilization of the state’s security vote, adding that it must reflect measurable results in protecting lives and property.
“Transparency is non-negotiable; the secrecy surrounding the use of the security vote must be removed. The people of Benue have a right to know exactly what their N3 billion a month is achieving.”
Kuraun further stressed that Benue is not just a budget item; it is home to millions of people whose lives and livelihoods are at risk due to persistent attacks.
He called for decisive action from the state government, stating, “Lives must matter more than politics, and inaction is no longer acceptable.”
He maintained that while collaboration with federal authorities is necessary, the primary responsibility for protecting the people falls on state leadership.
“It is not a time for excuses; it’s a time for action. The people of Benue need their leaders to rise to the challenge and keep their communities safe.”
