By Danmaryam Zayamu
Following the killings of defenceless residents of the middle belt region on almost a daily basis, the Middle Belt Forum (MBF), has charged governors of the region to create a security network similar to Operation Amotekun, recently launched in the Southwest.
The group insisted that creating a security outfit like Operation Amotekun will serve the communities of the region better than the proposed community policing.
In a statement signed by its National President, Dr. Pogu Bitrus, the MBF called on the governors of the region to “be irrevocably steadfast in evolving measures capable of staving off further bloodshed across our communities occupied by the peoples of the middle belt region.”
The Forum appealed to the governments of the region to embark on what it described as, massive development of infrastructure in order to lay the foundation of industrialisation and economic viability of the region.
The Forum congratulated the governors of Benue, Taraba, Plateau, Bauchi and Adamawa over their victories in the 2019 polls at the Supreme Court.
“There is no doubt that their victories at the Supreme Court have drawn tremendous joy and happiness from the electorate and demonstrates the impartiality of the judiciary in upholding the popular will of the people as fully expressed through the ballot box.
“The final resolution of these electoral disputes by the highest court in the land offers a refreshing hope for the governors to settle down and resolve the myriad of problems plaguing their states, especially on insecurity and infrastructural development for the economic empowerment of citizens,” the MBF reiterated.
The group further noted that: “For most of these states mentioned above, the prevailing security challenges have become the bane of safety and development.
“Attacks on communities and defenceless citizens are recurring criminalities in most of the states that have been caught in the web of avoidable bloodshed by terrorists. These murderous assaults have continued to cast threatening clouds of uncertainties and untold hardship on the populace.
“With the electoral disputations finally settled in their favour, it is hoped that more efforts and focus shall be deployed by the governors in combating bloodshed and massive destruction unleashed by terrorists.”
While calling on the governors of the region to take the security of lives and property of the residents of the area seriously, the Forum said: “Democracy and rights to life is sacrosanct and, therefore, we call on the governors to be committed to the defence of life and property.
“The present decimation of communities in the Middle Belt states and the turning of towns and villages into silent killing fields need to be revisited by these governors in collaboration with relevant agencies of the Federal Government to end the massive siege unleashed on Middle Belt states.
“Considering the horrifying activities that have drawn global attention, the Forum calls on the governors to work towards the creation of a security network similar to Operation Amotekun in order to obliterate all forms of insecurity unleashed on defenceless communities.
“We believe that a security outfit like Operation Amotekun will serve our communities better than the proposed community policing which is similar to the works as currently being done by informants in providing intelligence to the police.
“To achieve this laudable recommendations, the governors should carry critical stakeholders in policy implementation in their respective states towards creating cordial relations and promoting peace and harmony.
“More than anything, the governors should embark on measures towards engendering development and providing hope for people and communities that are under siege.”
