Amid escalating attacks by armed groups in Benue State, Hon. Terseer Ugbor, member representing Kwande/Ushongo Federal Constituency in the House of Representatives, has called on local communities to adopt self-defence measures to protect themselves.
Speaking during an interview on Channels Television on Monday, Ugbor supported recent remarks by the Director General of the Department of State Services (DSS), who urged communities nationwide to develop local protection systems in response to growing insecurity.
“The DG of the DSS publicly said communities will have to come up with self-defence mechanisms. Communities will have to defend themselves… with vigilantes and other systems,” Ugbor stated. “This is what Benue needs to do.”
The lawmaker criticised the limited impact of existing state-backed security structures in Benue, including the volunteer guard outfit Anyam Uyor, established by the current administration.
“Benue has had several attempts to set up state security apparatus. The former governor, Ortom, did that with the anti-open grazing law,” he said. “But we’ve not seen much of the impact of Anyam Uyor in Benue.”
He further highlighted the constraints faced by conventional security agencies such as the police and military, noting that their mandate in the state is primarily peacekeeping, not active engagement with attackers.
“The security forces are not there to open fire on any group. They’re there to maintain peace,” he explained. “When these people come and attack, they retreat. The security presence doesn’t have the mandate to pursue them.”
Addressing political controversies, Ugbor also defended the Secretary to the Government of the Federation (SGF), Senator George Akume, against allegations of undermining Benue State’s interests.
“The SGF has never stopped a location in Benue for one day. He has never forced the governor or blocked any benefit to the state,” he asserted.
Ugbor’s comments come amid rising concerns over the safety of rural communities in Benue, many of which have suffered repeated attacks with little or no timely intervention from federal forces.