By Correspondent in Lokoja.
Stakeholders across Kogi State have voiced deep concern over the escalating violence in Benue State, warning that the unrest poses a grave threat to national food security.
They urged the Federal Government to take urgent and decisive action to restore peace and prevent a looming crisis.
The alarm was sounded during a reception in Lokoja held in honour of the Kogi State Head of Service, Dr. Elijah Evinemi.
Prominent figures at the event described the situation in Benue as a growing national emergency with far-reaching consequences for both lives and livelihoods.
Addressing journalists at the occasion, the Rector of Kogi State Polytechnic, Prof. Salisu Usman Ogbo, underscored the strategic importance of Benue to Nigeria’s agricultural economy.
“Benue state is rightly known as the food basket of the nation
It supplies everything from grains and vegetables to livestock. If this violence continues unchecked, Nigeria could face a major food crisis,”he said.
Dr. Evinemi echoed the concern, calling for swift and strategic federal intervention to stabilize the region.
“This is not just a Benue problem,it is a national emergency,We cannot afford to watch a vital food-producing region descend into chaos.”he stressed.
Comrade Onuh Edoka, Special Adviser to Governor Ahmed Usman Ododo on Labour Matters, called for a holistic approach to resolving the crisis in Benue,emphasizing the need to address root causes such as land disputes, insecurity, and the displacement of communities.
“Strengthening security and promoting dialogue are both crucial. We must act now before the situation deteriorates further”Edoka said.
The traditional ruler of Ebiraland, His Royal Majesty, Alhaji Muhammed Tijani Anaje, advocated a multi-sectoral approach that blends military intervention with community-based peacebuilding efforts.
Adding his voice, the Kogi State Chairman of the Nigeria Labour Congress (NLC), Comrade Gabriel Amari, highlighted the economic toll of the violence.
“Food prices are already climbing.Any further disruption in food supply will hit the poor hardest. This crisis must not be allowed to fester,”he warned.
Collectively, the stakeholders called for enhanced security presence, immediate support for displaced persons, and the establishment of sustainable conflict-resolution mechanisms. They stressed that failure to act swiftly could allow the situation to spiral into a full-scale national disaster.
Edited by Dada Ahmed.
