The deployment of special forces to Benue State marks a long-overdue federal response to the persistent killings that have ravaged communities across the state.
Development Diaries reports that their deployment followed a fresh directive by President Bola Tinubu to the security chiefs to implement without delay his earlier instructions that lasting peace should be restored to the troubled north central state.
With over 200 residents of Guma local government area of Benue State killed over the weekend, the scale of the human loss is both heartbreaking and unacceptable.
According to media reports, many Nigerians on social media are demanding that the president declare a state of emergency in the state following the killings.
While it is good that the federal government is finally stepping in, sending troops should be just the first step.
What is truly needed is justice, those who are behind these attacks must be caught, named publicly, and made to face the law. The people of Benue don’t just need protection; they need to see that justice is being done.
A militarised response alone is not sufficient. The violence in Benue is deeply rooted in unresolved grievances, land conflicts, and a breakdown of trust in the state’s ability to ensure justice.
According to Global Rights, over 4,500 Nigerians were killed in mass atrocities in 2023, with Benue consistently ranking among the states with the highest casualties.
This culture of impunity is sustained when killers vanish into thin air and communities are left to bury their dead without answers.
Victims deserve more than condolence statements, they deserve transparent investigations, arrests, and court proceedings that demonstrate a functioning justice system.
Moreover, the success of the security operation will depend on its transparency and how effectively it communicates progress to the public.
For years, Nigerians have watched as security crackdowns in places like Plateau State, Zamfara State, and southern Kaduna yielded few visible outcomes.
To rebuild public trust, security agencies must provide regular, fact-based updates and ensure that local media and civil society organisations are not shut out of the process.
According to the National Bureau of Statistics (NBS), only 16.6 percent of Nigerians trust the police, and even fewer believe justice will be served through formal channels.
Hence, restoring confidence means ensuring that justice is seen to be done, not just promised behind closed doors.
Finally, reconciliation must be rooted in accountability. While President Tinubu has urged Governor Hyacinth Alia to lead peace talks with aggrieved groups, dialogue alone cannot succeed if perpetrators of past and ongoing violence are shielded from consequences.
Development Diaries calls on the Chief of Defence Staff, General Christopher Musa, and the Inspector General of Police (IGP), Kayode Egebokun to ensure that the deployment of special forces should be the beginning of a comprehensive, justice-driven strategy, not another flash of state power that fades without impact.
Photo source: BBC
