Resort to self-help in Benue state

Last week Tuesday, the Benue state governor, Samuel Ortom, did what amounted to passing a vote of no-confidence on the federal government and the Nigerian police. After repeated failure of the federal government and the security agencies to stop the killings and apprehend the murderers, Ortom called on the people of the state to use all legal means to defend themselves against further attacks by the herdsmen. Hear him:
“There are threats, even on my life. It is on record that I reported to the police and those people responsible (for the killings) have not been arrested. Miyetti Allah came out and owned up and threatened that bloodshed would continue in Benue. Is it not enough evidence for the Inspector-General of Police to arrest one person out of the group? He chose to declare that we have militia in Benue state. I think the people should have the right to defend themselves and not make themselves easy prey to be killed in their homes. So, any lawful means you can adopt to defend yourself in Benue state, just go ahead. We are not going to wait for the Inspector-General of Police to do it because he has failed in his assignment.”
This is a dangerous development. We had predicted this outcome long ago when the government was dithering to prevent the gruesome massacre or even arrest the perpetrators of these atrocities every time an attack is reported. Self-preservation is the very first law of nature and it is inconceivable that after repeatedly failing to protect lives and property of a particular people, they will continue to listen to and depend on some lame duck assurances by the same government that has failed them.
Instead of acting swiftly to stop the killing and apprehend the killers, the government beginning from the president had been making statements that betray their allegiance to the killers. To this day, the president has not deemed it fit to visit Benue state to personally access the level of damage done to the state and console the bereaved. But he has been visiting neighbouring states to commission projects. He only summoned some Benue state elders to the State House where he only pleaded with them to “in the name of God accommodate your countrymen”.
As if that was not enough, the Defence Minister, after a Security Council meeting of January 25 2018, the Defence Minister, Mansur Dan-Ali briefed the press where he gave the position of the federal government on the conflict between herdsmen and farmers in North central states thus:“Since Independence, we know there used to be a route whereby these cattle rearers use. Cattle rearers are all over the nation; you go to Bayelsa, you see them, you go to Ogun, you see them. If those routes are blocked, what happens? These people are Nigerians; it’s just like you going to block river or shoreline, does that make sense to you? These are the remote causes. But what are the immediate causes? It is the grazing law. These people are Nigerians; we must learn to live together with each other; that is basic. Communities and other people must learn how to accept foreigners within their enclave, finish.”
This position, as many keen watchers of the polity has noted, is indistinguishable from that of Miyetti Allah Kautal Hore – the group being accused of sponsoring the killings in the first place.
Pouring petrol on an already rising flame, the IG of Police described the killings as mere communal clashes and later, when invited by the Senate, claimed the killings were a direct result of the anti-open grazing law passed in Benue state and that the only way to stop the killings was to suspend the implementation of the law – a position clearly indistinguishable from those of the killers. To make matters worse, the spokesman of the police, Moshood Jimoh, launched a scathing attack on the governor describing him as a drowning governor on live television.
Although the governor too could not be said to be blameless in the unfolding security situation in his state as the chief security officer – drawing security votes to mobilise security agencies to provide security all around the state – the president and his defence and police chiefs have only added to the problem by openly siding with the killers and attacking the governor.
We do not need to remind the government of the consequences of communities resorting to self-help. The government must act now to prevent the arming and militarisation of the Nigerian society. It is far better to strengthen its security apparatuses to protect and defend citizens than allow citizens be forced into performing this function themselves. To allow armed citizens in a country as fractious and ridden with ethnic, communal, religious, and political conflicts as Nigeria’s is a recipe for disaster. That is why the government must do all within its powers to strengthen its capacity for policing the entire Nigerian society, ensure that justice is done to all wronged parties promptly to strengthen their belief and faith in the rule of law and the process. The time to act is now!