‘It’s clear evidence of state failure, collapse’, Dickson condemns killings in Benue, Plateau
The lawmaker representing Bayelsa West Senatorial District, Seriake Dickson has condemned the incessant attacks and killings in Plateau, Zamfara, Benue and Kaduna States....READ ORIGINAL & FULL CONTENT FROM SOURCE | READ ORIGINAL & FULL CONTENT FROM SOURCE...
Dickson described the dastardly and callous killings that occurred recently in several communities, especially Benue and Plateau states, as a clear evidence of state failure and collapse
In a post made on his Facebook page, the former governor condoled with the state governors and their people over the incessant killings.
He said the aforementioned states have suffered the brunt of criminality, lawlessness of genocidal magnitude which seems to be exceeding that of the Boko Haram insurgency that ravaged the Northeast region.
He said, “Not only are armed gunmen terrorising and ransacking hapless communities, and committing mass murders in these states, but the level of banditry, kidnapping, and killing has affected many other states as well, almost to the point of eclipsing the Boko Haram insurgency that bedevilled the northeastern part of our country years ago.
Calling on the government at the national level and the security chiefs to act fast, Dickson listed some of the factors that could have led to the breach of security in these communities and states at large.
He wrote, “There are many factors involved in this national security crisis, such as competition for resources leading to farmers/herders clashes, activities of illegal miners, criminal displacement of indigenous people for land acquisition, and activities of criminals, kidnappers and bandits, climate crisis, etc.
“While there are elements of banditry and sheer criminality that have nothing to do with competition for resources, there is also a well-known angle that has to do with perennial clashes between herdsmen and farmers in communities across the country,” the lawmaker stated.
Noting that the insecurity in the country needs to be urgently addressed, Dickson called for a resolve to implement the mandatory ranching, support and orientation for herdsmen through the newly established Ministry of Livestock and other relevant agencies to nip the crisis between farmers and herders in the bud.
He also advocated the strengthening of all security agencies and its operatives and community leaders to work towards flushing out bandits and criminals from the rural communities.
The lawmaker also assured Nigerians that he would raising some of these issues of concerns with relevant agencies in the country.
“It is not acceptable in this country or any other, for people wherever they are to be attacked, maimed, killed, and communities ransacked at will without consequences, while the rest of the country and the world move on. It is the clearest evidence of State failure and collapse,” he said.