That these killings May Stop

THAT THESE KILLINGS SHOULD STOP

THE AMNESTY PROGRAMME IN PERSPECTIVE

By Teryila Ibn Apine

The primary responsibility of any responsible leadership is the protection of lives and properties.

This one parameter distinguishes a government. It provides enabling environment for the implementation of Governments policies and programmes.

No meaningful development takes place in an atmosphere of confusion and chaos.

For a state like Benue, the need for peace and stability can never be overemphasized. No stone must be left unturn. Nothing should be left behind to ensure peace and tranquility.

Ours government must demostrate this in both words and action.

I make bold to say that, armed robbers and hoodlums understand when Government takes a sincere decision to deal with any security issue. They flee.
Again the hoodlums know when lip service is paid to security issues.

The Government of Benue state has granted amnesty to all category of hoodlums and bad boys. The government granted unconditional forgiveness to those who will repent from these dark ways and submit their weapons.

The Government has designed a process to reunite these bad boys into society as free and responsible citizens.

How these hoodlums have responded to this golden offer is what keeps beating my imagination.

Here it is alleged that the major security threats include the activities of clandestine gangsters known as cults, the fulani incursion, armed Robbery, very few cases of kidnapping and the assassinations we have started witnessing.

All these must be condemned and discouraged with all sense of seriousness and responsibility.

There has been news of killing going on in the sankara axis and Kastsina Ala in particular.

Before I proceed let me ask,

Are these hoodlums on rampage today, killing and destroying because they want to rush to Government house and secure Amnesty?

What if the people who are known to be part of these killings come forth to government house to get amnesty?

Before now citizens of Benue have been killed with out the culprits apprehended, today Hon Atoza Hindan.

Maybe some people will say Hon Atoza Hindan was one of those who supported the PDP government of Suswam who did not pay salaries for 5 months. It serves him right.

But who knows

tomorrow?

Let me reiterate my earlier stand.

Hoodlums understand when Government is serious about security issues. They will flee and rush to submit their weapons if they see the seriousness of Government.

In my considered opinion these killings are one too many.

These Government has promised to distance herself from any one involved in distubing the peace of Benue state.

If salaries are paid and Armed robbers beat up people and collect it, it becomes of what use?

If industries are functional and people can not patronise iyt because of insecurity, of what use will it be? Etc

The governor as chief security officer has all intelligence report at his disposal. As such the Government has every capacity to nip in the bud every break down of law and order.

Amnesty should be beyond people rushing to Government house and returning obsolete weapons to collect compensations.

Let the government sustain this resolve to protect the lives and properties with all seriousness and with passion.