Retired Lieutenant Colonel Lamidi Adeosun, a former Chief of Policy and Plans in the Nigerian Army, has blamed weak governance as the main cause of insecurity in Benue, Plateau, and other states in Nigeria’s Middle Belt region.
Speaking on Wednesday at Lagos State University during a lecture organized by the Centre for Peace and Security Studies, Adeosun explained that poor leadership and government failure are responsible for the ongoing violence in the region. The lecture was titled, “Strategies for Tackling Insecurity in the Middle Belt: An Insider’s Perspective.”
Adeosun said the government has failed to manage ethnic and communal tensions, properly regulate land and resource use, and respond quickly and fairly to violence.
“The insecurity in the Middle Belt highlights the failure of leadership and governance in a region that should be a symbol of unity and agricultural strength for Nigeria,” he stated.
He noted that competition over land and natural resources especially between indigenous communities and nomadic herders has been a key driver of conflict.
He called for the reform and enforcement of land policies, including the Land Use Act of 1978, which places control of land in the hands of state governors.
According to Adeosun, “The Middle Belt is known for its ethnic and religious diversity, but these differences have also led to conflict. Weak governance, including corruption, poor law enforcement, and lack of political will, has made the situation worse.”
He warned that the state’s inability to handle recurring violence fairly has created a sense of bias, encouraging armed groups and making people lose trust in the government. “In places like Benue and Plateau, violence has gone on for decades. Failure to resolve conflicts fairly and punish offenders has led to more violence and disillusionment,” he said.
Adeosun also criticized the failure of state governments to manage land disputes, even though they are empowered to do so under the Land Use Act.
He explained that armed groups have taken advantage of this gap to seize land by force, especially in the ongoing herder-farmer clashes in Benue and Nasarawa States.
In addition to poor governance, Adeosun listed other causes of insecurity, including corruption, ethnic and religious tensions, land disputes, political manipulation, and criminal activities.
He particularly criticized corruption in the security sector, noting that bribery, nepotism, and selective deployment of security forces prevent effective responses to violence.
He gave an example from 2018, when many people were killed in Benue, and security forces reportedly failed to act despite being warned in advance. “This kind of failure not only allows violence to continue but also destroys public trust in the state,” he added.
Adeosun explained that, in the absence of effective government, non-state actors like vigilante groups and militias have taken on security roles. Some of these groups, originally formed to protect local communities, have become involved in crime and political manipulation.
He pointed to the case of Terwase Akwaza, known as Gana, who gained power in Benue by taking advantage of weak governance.
To tackle the ongoing violence, Adeosun suggested focusing on community-based security solutions, such as the Amotekun corps in the South-West, improving governance, resolving land and resource conflicts, promoting modern livestock farming (like ranching), and stopping political manipulation.
“These local approaches are better than outside, top-down solutions that don’t take into account the region’s unique history and culture,” he said. “By promoting local leadership, inclusive governance, and strong institutions, we can find lasting solutions to insecurity.”
The event was hosted by Professor Adewumi Falode, Director of the Centre for Peace and Security Studies at LASU. The Vice-Chancellor, Professor Ibiyemi Olatunji-Bello, was represented by Professor Ibrahim Olateju, Dean of Postgraduate School. Also in attendance were Professor Olumuyiwa Noah, former Deputy Vice Chancellor (Academic), and serving officers of the Nigerian Army.
