Rising insecurity: Govt intervention failed – Chief Akiga

By Joe Apu

Chairman of Choice Leisure Limited, Chief Felix Akiga has expressed concern over the deteriorating security situation in Benue State, lamenting that the government’s interventions have so far failed to curb the menace.

Chief Akiga raised the alarm recently in Zaria, Kaduna State, at a security summit, which he spearheaded in response to the escalating wave of killings in Benue State.

Decrying the security situation in Benue, he said: “The Fulani and the Benue people have historically coexisted peacefully, but the recent conflicts have led to significant loss of lives,” he said.

The summit brought together key figures, including the Tor Tiv, Prof. James Ayatse; the Emir of Zazzau, Malam Ahmed Nuhu Bamalli and former Bauchi State Governor, Malam Isa Yuguda, who doubles as the Sarikin Fulani among others

Adding a gesture of goodwill, the Emir of Zazzau agreed to reciprocate a visit from the Tor Tiv, an initiative aimed at bolstering communal ties and laying groundwork for lasting peace.

“It is evident that many of the attacks on Benue communities are being carried out by outsiders. There’s an urgent need to unify all stakeholders in pursuit of enduring peace,” Chief Akiga noted. He noted that in one of the deadliest attacks, suspected armed herders killed between 100 and 200 people in Yelwata, displacing around 3,000 residents.

The massacre involved the burning of homes, and particularly targeted at internally displaced persons sheltering in a market place. He stated that similar violence has occurred repeatedly in recent months with 23 people killed in Apa and Gwer West, five in Okpomaju, 19 in Kwande and 72 in Ukum, all between February and April 2025.

Against this backdrop, he said the Zaria security summit marks a hopeful development. The proposed goodwill visit between the Emir of Zazzau and the Tor Tiv, combined with inclusive dialogue, signals a recognition that lasting peace will require both community engagement and state-level accountability.

He also submitted that strengthening enforcement of anti-grazing laws, enhancing rural security, safeguarding farmers and ensuring swift justice, were vital steps towards restoring safety and stability.