Benue at 50: Hon decries insecurity, demands urgent leadership action

Sebastine Tar Hon, a professor of Law and Senior Advocate of Nigeria, has warned that insecurity is threatening the survival and future of the state as it marks 50 years of its creation.

Hon stated this in a message to the people of Benue on Tuesday to commemorate the Golden Jubilee of the state, which was created in 1976, describing the anniversary as a major milestone overshadowed by persistent violence and displacement.

He recalled that Benue had grown over the decades into a culturally rich and agriculturally vibrant state, earning the title “Food Basket of the Nation,” while also making remarkable progress in education and human capital development.

According to him, the achievements recorded under successive military and civilian administrations show that the state has strong foundations, but the present realities indicate that “we can do far better” if leadership rises to the occasion.

“What would have been celebrated as a golden jubilee is however overshadowed by a well-orchestrated insecurity that has knocked lives out of hundreds of our beloved compatriots,” Hon said, noting that attacks have displaced families, emptied rural communities and crippled farming activities.

He lamented that hunger and fear now plague the state, with thousands of survivors languishing in Internally Displaced Persons (IDP) camps, stressing that residents must urgently return to their ancestral lands under a secure environment through decisive action by both the federal and state governments.

While thanking God for preserving the people despite the crisis, Hon criticised the current state leadership for failing to protect lives and property, declaring, “This is unacceptable; a Nehemiah is needed at this time to do the job,” as he called for a safe, prosperous and inclusive Benue for present and future generations.