By Reno Omokri
I watched the town hall meeting President Bola Tinubu had with the government and people of Benue State. What struck me most was how alert the President was as he listened intently to the various speakers give their ideas. I saw commitment in the President. He sat at the edge of his seat, his attention rapt. So rapt that I was inspired.
My inspiration led me to pen down my own suggestions on how the Federal, State and Local Governments can restore peace to the Yelewata area, and the larger North Central geopolitical zone, and even nationally.
Firstly, as Nigeria awaits the kickoff of the commendable State and Community Policing initiative suggested by President Tinubu, the Federal and State Governments can help the people of Benue and Plateau set up their own versions of the Civilian Joint Task Forces that exist in Borno, Yobe and Adamawa states to help the armed forces fight terrorism.
Once set up, drones and night vision goggles should be provided for them to enable them to monitor the forests and waterways in their communities, which, according to available reports, are the most used invasion points of the marauders that carry out these attacks.
Also, the Federal and State Governments can sow discord amongst the terror and criminal groups that perpetrate these attacks by offering a mouthwatering reward for information leading to the arrest of the perpetrators. If the reward is big enough and comes with a no-questions-asked guarantee, one of them will betray their fellows.
Additionally, each community should be encouraged to have vigilantes, with air raid sirens, and watch towers for these individuals to keep watch over the villages while the rest of the population sleeps. They would take turns to sleep in shifts, and if they sense danger, they activate the sirens, so that at any point in time, there are local people who can raise an alarm if technology fails to give an early warning.
Importantly, actions must have consequences. Enough of always blaming the President in Abuja when these carnages occur. The State Houses of Assembly should urgently consider a law requiring any traditional ruler and Local Government Chairman in whose locality these incidents occur to be suspended without pay for at least two months while an investigation is initiated to find out whether or not they used their position to either prevent or mitigate such attacks.
If the investigation shows negligence, they must be suspended for six more months or for whatever length of time the assembly deems appropriate.
It is not everything we must look to Abuja for. Security is everybody’s business. LGA Chairmen and traditional rulers should not be collecting monthly subvention to do nothing while enemies of the nation kill those under their care.
Finally, under President Jonathan, the Federal Government set up the Victims Support Fund on Friday, August 1, 2014. I know for a fact that there is still money in that fund. My suggestion is that the Federal Government should tap into whatever remains in that fund to assist the people of Yelewata in Benue.
Reno Omokri a social media influencer and a former aide to ex-President Goodluck Jonathan originally wrote the above on his Facebook post
