By Our Correspondent
The Benue Rebirth Movement (BRM) has demanded for a full-scale deployment to Forward Operating Bases (FOBs) in order to reinforce security in Benue State.
According to BRM, well equipped FOBs already exist in Benue with personnel, logistics and intelligence support that could be useful in stemming the ugly tide of rising insecurity in the State.
The group which consists essentially of eminent personalities from Benue South Senatorial District also known as Zone B, therefore, urged President Bola Tinubu to order the National Security Adviser and the Defence headquarters to fortify all FOBs in the state.
In a statement welcoming President Tinubu to Benue following last weekend killing of over 200 persons in Yelwata area of Guma Local Government of Benue Wednesday, the Group also urged him to proclaim that no part of the country would be allowed to fall into sustained lawlessness.
The statement signed by BRM’s National Coordinator, AVM Monday Morgan (retd),
also urged the NSA to support community defence infrastructure across the vulnerable local governments in the state.
“We respectfully call on the Commander-in-Chief to lead a concerted push for stamping out this terrorist-cum-genocidal stranglehold that has taken, not only Benue state, but also a large section of northern Nigeria captive.
“Specifically, we draw the attention of the President to the need for Federal Security Reinforcement through full federal deployment to Forward Operating Bases (FOBs) in Benue state that are well-equipped with personnel, logistics, and actionable intelligence support.
“The President should also consider issuing a direct federal intervention order mandating the NSA and Defence Headquarters to assess and fortify all FOBs in Benue State; re-engaging community security volunteers under regulated state–federal collaboration;
sending a clear national message that no part of Nigeria will be allowed to fall into sustained lawlessness.
“The National Security Agencies should consider supporting the development of community defense infrastructure across vulnerable LGAs — training, communication systems, surveillance drones, and rapid response tools.
“Equally important is the need for government and political leaders to de-politicize the crisis. Underplaying the massacres and failing to engage sincerely with the affected communities are worsening tensions.”
The group, however, falted the narrative of a peaceful cohabitation or amicabe settlement, declaring it as inexplicable as there are no permanent Fulani settlements in Benue.
“We want to state that the problem has transmuted from what used to be occasional clashes between indigenous farmers and normadic Fulanis to persistent, fullscale and unprovoked visitation of genocidal terror on innocent communities across virtually the entire state. It is important to state clearly that there are no permanent Fulani settlements in Benue.
“The perpetrators of violence are not residents but transient invaders, moving between Nasarawa, Taraba, Kogi, and Benue, often armed and well-coordinated.
“Therefore, the narrative of peaceful cohabitation or amicable settlement is inapplicable to the Benue context. The security risk is not from herders seeking integration, but from militias using pastoral movement as cover for sustained aggression.”
BRM commended President Tinubu for for establishing the national Forest Guards, adding that it “sincerely believe that, its careful implementation, assisted by retired generals in all the geopolitical zones will eventually help flush out the mercenaries hiding in our forests.”
It added: “To complement the Forest Guards, we call on the state government to reactivate the state’s most effective local security structures — Operation Zenda and other volunteer community-based security agencies— as they are instrumental in grassroots surveillance and early warning responses.
“Finally, BRM joins Mr President and other Nigerians in commiserating with the government and people of Benue state, especially the people and communities affected by the most recent attacks in Guma, Makurdi, Apa, Agatu, Otukpo, Gwer, Gwer West and other Local Government Areas of Benue state.”
