Former Benue State governorship aspirant under the All Progressives Congress (APC), Dr. Jeffrey Kuraun, has called on Governor Hyacinth Alia to take decisive and accountable action to end the persistent violence and killings plaguing communities across the state.
In a strongly worded statement titled “Accountability Over Excuses: Benue Must Lead the Security Response” issued Sunday in Abuja, Kuraun, a respected public policy expert, condemned the continued bloodshed, describing it as both tragic and unacceptable in light of the substantial security funding allocated to the state.
“Benue cannot continue to suffer avoidable bloodshed while receiving the largest monthly security allocation among all Nigerian states,” Kuraun said. “The security votes must translate to security impact. These are public funds meant for intelligence operations, community policing, and proactive threat management.”
He questioned the effectiveness of current measures, citing that despite a monthly allocation of over ₦3 billion for security, several communities remain vulnerable to attacks. He stressed that rhetorical condemnation and sympathy are not enough—what is urgently needed is bold, effective, and accountable leadership.
Kuraun dismissed the tendency to shift blame to federal agencies, neighboring states, or previous administrations, stating that the primary responsibility for ensuring safety lies with the current leadership in Benue.
“Leadership means initiative, not excuses. Waiting on external actors only delays the response. A coordinated local strategy is essential,” he said.
He advocated for the training and equipping of community policing units and the formal engagement of traditional rulers, local leaders, and vigilante groups to reinforce grassroots security.
Kuraun also called for a public audit of security expenditures, insisting that transparency must replace secrecy. “The people of Benue deserve to know: What exactly is ₦3 billion achieving each month? The era of opaque spending must end.”
Emphasizing that Benue is not merely a budget line, but home to millions of Nigerians, he urged the state government to lead the security response with “courage, clarity, and accountability.”
“Lives must matter more than politics,” he declared. “Inaction is no longer acceptable.”
Kuraun’s comments come amid growing concerns over the spate of attacks and displacement in various parts of Benue, with critics increasingly demanding a more robust and transparent security approach from the state government.