By Efe Onodjae
Former Chief of Coverage and Plans, Nigerian Military, Lieutenant Normal Lamidi Adeosun (retd.), has raised the alarm over the escalating insecurity ravaging Nigeria’s Center Belt, blaming it on a fancy interaction of ethno-religious tensions, elite manipulation, land disputes, and weak governance constructions.
The retired basic acknowledged this whereas delivering the primary Distinguished Lecture Collection organised by the Centre for Peace and Safety Research at Lagos State College, titled “Methods for Tackling Insecurity within the Center Belt: An Insider’s Perspective.”
Adeosun referred to as for an pressing recalibration of Nigeria’s nationwide safety technique, warning that with out context-sensitive responses rooted in native realities, the nation dangers a breakdown of state authority and regional stability.
He harassed that insecurity within the area comprising Benue, Plateau, Nasarawa, Kogi, Taraba, Niger, and elements of Kaduna and the FCT, had grow to be deeply entrenched because of many years of structural neglect and the weaponisation of id politics.
Based on Adeosun, insecurity within the Center Belt isn’t spontaneous however a product of historic grievances, elite exploitation, and climate-induced useful resource conflicts. He listed 5 most important drivers of the disaster: ethno-religious tensions, land disputes, elite manipulation, criminality, and weak governance.
He famous: “The Center Belt has grow to be a theatre of overlapping violence the place id, land, and politics intersect dangerously. The ‘indigene’ versus ‘settler’ dichotomy, non secular bigotry, and elite-backed militias have mixed to show communal grievances into bloodbaths.”
The previous army chief cited Benue, Plateau, and Southern Kaduna as flashpoints, noting that the herder-farmer battle in these areas had morphed into organised violence, usually strengthened by felony networks and the failure of presidency establishments.
Adeosun didn’t mince phrases on the function of political elites in fuelling the disaster. He accused a number of of them of arming youths throughout elections, solely to desert them post-polls , a pattern he mentioned has turned native thugs into militia commanders and warlords.
He referenced the case of Terwase Akwaza, alias “Gana,” in Benue State, who transitioned from vigilante chief to warlord, with alleged ties to political actors.
“The rise and fall of ‘Gana’ typify how the manipulation of non-state actors by political elites can boomerang and grow to be a nationwide safety nightmare,” he warned.
The retired basic lamented the rising sophistication of armed teams within the area, pointing to rampant kidnappings, cattle rustling, and arms trafficking, particularly alongside the Abuja-Kaduna axis.
He decried the state’s failure to rein in these actors, noting that weak policing, corruption, and the proliferation of small arms had rendered many communities weak.
“Criminality within the Center Belt is now not incidental; it’s systemic, worthwhile, and politically protected,” he acknowledged.
Adeosun outlined a multi-dimensional technique anchored on community-based safety, good governance, livestock modernization, land reform, and the demilitarisation of youth.
He advocated for the strengthening of indigenous safety networks together with conventional rulers, faith-based teams, hunters, and vigilantes to enrich formal safety businesses.
“Native communities perceive their terrain and threats higher. Their involvement is important in constructing intelligence-led responses,” he acknowledged.
On governance, he urged the institutionalisation of inclusive and accountable programs, warning that marginalisation breeds revolt.
“Governance should be participatory. No neighborhood ought to really feel excluded or silenced in a democracy,” Adeosun mentioned.
To curb recurring herder-farmer clashes, Adeosun referred to as for the modernisation of livestock farming by ranching, supported by clear authorized frameworks, traceability programs, and coaching for herders.
He additionally really helpful equitable land reforms that recognise each statutory and customary possession, in addition to the demarcation of agricultural and grazing zones to stop violent overlaps.
“Land isn’t just an financial asset within the Center Belt. It’s id, survival, and historical past. Any reform should be justice-driven and domestically owned,” he mentioned.
Whereas stressing that the Center Belt’s instability poses a grave menace to nationwide unity and financial stability, Adeosun warned that Nigeria dangers collapse if proactive steps should not taken.
He referred to as on the Federal Authorities, civil society, conventional rulers, and worldwide companions to undertake domestically grounded options reasonably than one-size-fits-all safety frameworks.
“The insecurity within the Center Belt is a mirror of Nigeria’s bigger governance disaster. Repair it, and we transfer nearer to nationwide stability. Ignore it, and we threat changing into a rustic at perpetual battle with itself,” he concluded.
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