North Central insecurity threatens food security of 200m Nigerians – Alia

Benue State Governor, Rev. Fr. Hyacinth Alia, has cautioned that insecurity in the North Central region threatens the food security of over 200 million Nigerians. During the North-Central Regional Security Summit at the Government House in Makurdi, Alia emphasized that the region's farms provide sustenance to various parts of the country, while its mineral resources contribute to Nigeria's economy.

He warned, "When the North Central is insecure, it is not only our problem, the whole country feels it on its dining table." Alia stressed the importance of collaborative approaches to strengthen security and regional stability, involving traditional rulers, border communities, and grassroots intelligence networks. He urged the people of the region to set aside their differences and confront the enemy of insecurity, stating that unity is crucial.

Alia highlighted the need to address socio-economic drivers of crime, such as poverty and idleness, alongside improved intelligence-sharing and community engagement. The summit, organized by the Ministry of Defence and the Office of the Senior Special Assistant on Community Engagement, brought together leaders to develop solutions to banditry, farmer-herder clashes, kidnappings, violent extremism, and organized crime.

Participants acknowledged the Federal Government's efforts to decentralize security planning and build peace from the community level up, urging authorities to implement the summit's outcomes to promote peace and stability in the region.