Governor Hyacinth Alia of Benue State has appealed for support to facilitate the return of Internally Displaced Persons (IDPs) to their ancestral homes and to secure the state’s borders against ongoing violence.
Speaking at the North-Central Regional Consultation on the Harmonisation of the National Disarmament, Demobilisation, and Reintegration (DDR) Framework held in Makurdi, the governor said that the state is currently managing about 17 IDP camps. He stressed the urgent need for collaborative solutions to restore peace and security in affected communities.
The consultation, themed “Towards Creating Exit Pathways out of Violence and Criminality,” was organised by International Alert in partnership with the Office of the National Security Adviser (ONSA) through the National Counter-Terrorism Centre (NCTC).
Alia said some local government areas in Benue have suffered severe violence, with people killed, displaced, and their lands forcefully occupied. He underscored the importance of trust, courage, and accountability in resolving the crisis, and called on all stakeholders to contribute meaningful and inclusive solutions.
“We must allow our farmers to return to their farmlands and our children to dream of a better future,” he said. He reiterated that the state government would remain a partner in peace efforts and emphasized that peace, not land grabbing or armed confrontation, must be the focus.
Mairo Abbas, Director of Preventing and Countering Violent Extremism at ONSA, represented the National Security Adviser and explained that the workshop aims to build a national DDR framework tailored to Nigeria’s unique challenges, incorporating indigenous knowledge and promoting reconciliation.
Abbas highlighted the pressing security issues in the North-Central region, including herder-farmer clashes, communal violence, banditry, and extremism. He urged participants to help design an inclusive and context-specific DDR plan rooted in forgiveness and unity.
Dr. Paul Nyulaku-Bemshima, Country Director of International Alert Nigeria, said the event brings together stakeholders to address the drivers of violence and seek viable non-violent solutions. He stressed the need for communities to recognize peace as an achievable goal despite the ongoing conflicts.
Dr. Ukoha Ukiwo, Team Lead for the Strengthening Peace and Resilience in Nigeria (SPRING) Programme funded by the UK government, said Nigeria has the potential to be a force for stability in Africa. He noted that many state governments have already begun adopting non-kinetic solutions to insecurity over the past two decades.
The event is expected to produce a communiqué that will help guide future actions to address displacement, violence, and long-term peacebuilding in Benue and the wider North-Central region.
