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By Winnie Onu, Makurdi
The governorship candidate of the Nigeria Democratic Congress (NDC) in Benue State, Prof. Terhemba Shija, has pledged to close all Internally Displaced Persons (IDP) camps in the stat1e if elected governor in 2027.
Shija, who made the pledge while speaking with journalists at his residence in Makurdi, said he had conducted independent research into the displacement crisis and would adopt what he described as a different approach to addressing insecurity and restoring peace to farming communities.
He promised to tackle insecurity and return displaced residents to their communities while lamenting the prolonged stay of thousands of displaced residents in camps across the state.
He described the situation as unacceptable and insisting that his administration would take decisive steps to end the killings and attacks that had forced many residents from their ancestral homes.
Shija also criticised Governor Hyacinth Alia’s approach to the state’s security challenges, promising to openly describe the killings in Benue as genocide and act decisively to stop them if elected.
“I will do the opposite of what Fr. Alia’s administration is doing. I will say there is genocide in Benue and ensure that the killings of innocent Benue people stop without taking permission from anybody,” he said.
The state’s former commissioner for information added that his administration would deploy technology-driven security measures, including drones and closed-circuit television (CCTV) cameras, alongside both kinetic and non-kinetic strategies to combat insecurity.
“I will employ the use of drones and install CCTV, as well as engage in kinetic and non-kinetic approaches to tackle insecurity. My police will be like the military,” he said.
Shija argued that Benue needed an experienced leader with the knowledge and competence to address its security and development challenges, adding that his policies would prioritise the immediate needs of residents and restore the state’s lost glory.
