Reported by: Ijeoma G | Edited by: Oravbiere Osayomore Promise.
The warning was delivered in Makurdi, at a gathering that was meant to be about peace. The Commissioner of Police in Benue State, CP Cletus Nwadiogbu, had summoned chairmen of political parties, candidates, representatives of sister security agencies and other stakeholders to the state police headquarters for a peace accord signing ceremony. The message he delivered was not a plea. It was a warning. Political leaders and candidates participating in the forthcoming elections must not recruit or use thugs, cult members and other criminal elements to advance their political interests. The command would remain professional and impartial, but it would not stand by while political actors turned the state into a battlefield.
A statement issued on Thursday by the State Police Public Relations Officer, DSP Peter Aondongu, and made available to journalists in Makurdi, said the peace accord was aimed at promoting peaceful political activities and sustaining security across the state. According to the statement, Nwadiogbu particularly warned political leaders and candidates against recruiting or deploying political thugs, cult groups and other criminal elements to intimidate opponents or disrupt lawful political activities. The Commissioner urged political actors to ensure that their supporters conducted themselves peacefully and responsibly throughout the electoral process. The participating political parties and candidates subsequently signed the peace accord, signifying their commitment to rejecting political violence, respecting the rights of other political actors and cooperating with security agencies to maintain peace throughout the electoral process.
The Commissioner assured all political parties and candidates that the command would remain professional and impartial while providing adequate security for all lawful political activities. He also urged political stakeholders to maintain effective communication with the police and other security agencies, particularly when planning rallies, campaigns and other major political events. The Commissioner called on political leaders, candidates, supporters and residents to uphold the spirit of the peace accord and work collectively towards peaceful and credible political activities in Benue State. Aondongu said the stakeholders at the meeting reaffirmed their commitment to peaceful campaigns, respect for the rule of law and protection of lives and property throughout the electoral period.
The peace accord signing ceremony was held on Wednesday at the state police headquarters in Makurdi. It brought together state chairmen of political parties, candidates, representatives of sister security agencies and other stakeholders to discuss measures for sustaining peace throughout the electoral period. The participating parties and candidates pledged to reject political violence, respect the rights of other political actors and cooperate with security agencies in maintaining peace during the signing of the accord.
The warning from the Benue CP is not an abstract concern. Benue State has a long and troubled history of political violence, and the 2027 elections are already shaping up to be a tense contest. The state has witnessed clashes between supporters of different political parties, attacks on political gatherings, and the destruction of campaign materials. In recent weeks, the political temperature in Benue has risen sharply, with the convoy of Nigeria Democratic Congress presidential candidate Peter Obi blocked by armed thugs in Makurdi, an incident that left more than ten youths hospitalised and sparked nationwide condemnation. The government denied involvement, but the attack underscored the dangers of political thuggery in a state where the line between political rivalry and criminal violence has become dangerously blurred.
The recruitment of thugs and cultists by politicians is not a new phenomenon in Nigeria. Across the country, political actors have been accused of arming young men, deploying them to intimidate opponents, disrupt rallies, and in some cases, carry out assassinations. The consequences have been devastating. Hundreds of Nigerians have lost their lives to politically motivated violence, and the culture of impunity that surrounds these crimes has eroded public confidence in the democratic process. In Benue State, the problem is compounded by the presence of armed groups, cultists and criminal networks that operate in the shadows and are often willing to hire out their services to the highest bidder.
The CP's warning is a recognition that the police cannot prevent political violence alone. The cooperation of political parties, candidates and their supporters is essential. The peace accord signed on Wednesday is a step in the right direction, but accords are only as strong as the commitment behind them. In previous election cycles, similar accords have been signed and subsequently violated. The real test will be whether the parties and candidates who put their names to the document will abide by its terms, and whether the police will have the courage to enforce the law when they do not.
The Commissioner's assurance that the command will remain professional and impartial is important. In a state where the police have been accused of partisanship in the past, the CP's pledge is a reminder that the security agencies have a duty to protect all political actors, regardless of their party affiliation. The command's willingness to provide security for all lawful political activities is a necessary condition for a free and fair election. But the police must also be prepared to act decisively against those who violate the law, including political actors who recruit thugs, cultists and criminal elements.
The 2027 general elections are still months away, but the signs of political violence are already visible. The peace accord signed in Makurdi is a welcome development, but it will not be enough on its own. The police, political parties, civil society organisations and the general public must work together to ensure that the elections are conducted in an atmosphere of peace and mutual respect. The alternative is a repeat of the violence that has marred previous elections in Benue State and across Nigeria. The CP has drawn a line in the sand. The question is whether anyone will cross it, and what the police will do if they do.
For the people of Benue State, the stakes could not be higher. They have endured years of insecurity, displacement and violence. The 2027 elections offer an opportunity to choose their leaders in a peaceful and credible process. The peace accord signed on Wednesday is a reminder that this opportunity must not be squandered. The parties and candidates have made their pledges. The police have made their commitments. Now, the work of building a peaceful electoral environment must begin in earnest.
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