A chieftain of the All Progressives Congress (APC), Dr. Jeffrey Kuraun, has alleged that the non-usage of ?3 billion monthly security votes by the Benue State Governor, Rev Fr Hyacinth Alia, is responsible for the killings and insecurity in the state.

In a statement in Abuja on Sunday, Kuraun described the spate of killings in the state as not only tragic but deeply alarming, particularly given the scale of resources at the state’s disposal.

Kuraun, who aspired for the governorship of the state in the 2023 poll, contended that the ongoing killings demand more than national sympathy and rhetorical condemnations, pointing out that they require bold, effective and accountable leadership from the state government.

“Benue cannot continue to suffer avoidable bloodshed while receiving the largest monthly allocation for security among all Nigerian states. The security votes must translate to security impact. Security votes are public funds meant to be used for operational intelligence, local law enforcement support, community policing, and proactive threat neutralisation,” he said.

“If Benue receives over ?3 billion monthly and yet communities remain exposed to attacks, then the effectiveness of fund utilisation is in question. There should be No Room For Blame Games; It is easy to point fingers at federal agencies, neighboring states, or even past administrations. However, the first responsibility lies with the current custodians of power in Benue.”

In a statement, titled ‘Accountability Over Excuses, Benue Must Lead the Security Response,’ the public policy expert posited that leadership means taking the initiative and not waiting for Abuja or external actors, adding that excuses and blame cannot replace action.

He argued that coordinated local response is sacrosanct, saying community policing units must be trained and equipped, adding that traditional rulers, local leaders, and vigilante networks must be formally engaged.

“There should be a public audit of security spending to rebuild public trust and ensure the votes are not misappropriated, suing for collaboration with federal security forces which must be built on mutual accountability and not rivalry.

“Transparency is non-negotiable; the veil of secrecy over how security votes are spent must be lifted. The good people of Benue State have a right to ask: What exactly is ?3 billion achieving monthly? The era of unaccounted, opaque spending must give way to measurable security outcomes,” he said.

According to him, Benue is not just a line item on a budget, as it is home to millions of Nigerians whose lives and livelihoods are at stake.

He said with the highest security vote in the country, the state government must lead the security intervention with courage, clarity, and full accountability.

He stressed that lives must matter more than politics, adding that inaction would no longer be acceptable. (The Guardian)