President Bola Tinubu has been urged to adopt bold and unconventional measures to end the persistent attacks and killings in Benue State and other parts of the Middle Belt.
The call was made by hostile environment journalist and Chairman of the Northern Christian Youth Professionals, Isaac Abrak, in an open letter to the President, a copy of which was made available to journalists.
Abrak, who has spent years reporting from conflict zones across the region, described the cycle of violence as “unrelenting,” noting that despite the efforts of the military and other security agencies, armed groups continue to target rural communities with impunity.
“We cannot afford to fold our arms in despair. We must act differently. We must try something new—even if it has never been attempted anywhere in the world,” Abrak wrote. “For the sake of our people, our farmers, and our children, we must do something bold to stop this carnage.”
He commended President Tinubu for approving the establishment of the Armed Forest Guard—a community-driven security initiative—describing it as a potential game-changer in curbing violence in rural areas.
“The Forest Guard must not be driven by theories or data sheets alone but by the lived experiences of people who bleed when our villages bleed,” he said.
Abrak emphasized that those behind many of the attacks are often members of the affected communities, noting that sustainable peace can only be achieved through a grassroots approach. He advocated for the recruitment of hunters, ex-servicemen, and young people deeply rooted in local communities to serve in the Forest Guard.
Drawing on past security models introduced during Tinubu’s tenure as Governor of Lagos State, such as the Lagos State Traffic Management Authority (LASTMA) and the Lagos Waste Management Authority (LAWMA), Abrak argued that local initiatives, when executed with sincerity, can transform society.
“When you introduced LASTMA and LAWMA, you turned the so-called ‘Area Boys’ into agents of order and cleanliness,” he said. “The same transformation is possible with the Forest Guard.”
While acknowledging that critics may oppose the plan, Abrak said real leadership demands courage to act. “You’ve shown in the past that progress requires boldness. Now is the time to replicate that courage on a national scale.”
He concluded by urging the President to remain resolute and lead with the same audacity that defined his previous reforms, warning that anything less could result in continued bloodshed and instability.
