It is with a deeply broken heart that I write to you today. The darkness that fell upon our land on Friday following the merciless massacre of our people in Yelewata, Guma Local Government Area, has left a scar on our conscience that time alone cannot heal. Over 100 innocent lives, mostly women and children were brutally cut short in a manner that defies humanity and reason. These were mothers, sisters, daughters, fathers and sons; citizens whose only “crime” was being born in a land they called home.

Benue bleeds, and in this moment of grief, I mourn with every family that has lost a loved one. I stand with every child now orphaned, every widow left in sorrow, and every community shattered by these repeated acts of evil. As a son of this land, I feel your pains. As a father, I understand your anguish. And as a Nigerian, I am ashamed that such wickedness continues unabated on our soil.

But beyond mourning, we must reflect. This is no longer the time for political divides, clannish sentiments, or personal loyalties. The enemy before us does not care whether we are Tiv, Idoma, Igede, neither do they care which political divide you belong to. He does not check your PVC before pulling the trigger. He is not interested in who we voted for or what political party we belong to. His mission is simple to conquer, to displace, and to destroy. And unless we come together as one Benue, one people, one purpose, we may wake up one day with no place left to call home.

I humbly appeal to His Excellency, the Governor of our dear state, a brother and a fellow son of Benue to rise to this urgent challenge. Your Excellency, now is the time to show the heart of a father. A father who grieves not just with his words, but with decisive action. I plead with you to put the house our Benue family together. From traditional rulers to the religious leaders, to youth and women leaders, and all concerned stakeholders. Let us reason together, talk together, and find lasting solutions together. Benue must not continue to be a killing field.

Furthermore, I remind us all that the Anti-Open Grazing Law passed by the immediate past administration is not the law of one man, but a law of the Benue people. It is not a partisan legacy; it is our collective resolve to protect lives, property, and the dignity of our heritage. Let us return to the drawing board and ensure the full enforcement of this law. Let it not gather dust on a shelf while our people gather corpses from the fields.

Benue belongs to all of us. It is a precious inheritance entrusted to us by our ancestors, and it’s our duty to pass it to future generations yet unborn. We must nurture it, protect it, and preserve it not for ourselves alone, but for the millions who will come after us. It is bigger than any single individual, any single government, or any fleeting political season.

Finally, I make a humble appeal to all sons and daughters of Benue, whether at home or in the diaspora to remain vigilant. We must support ourselves, gather intelligence, and look out for one another. In this time of great testing, security must become everybody’s business. The enemy may come for one of us, but let him find all of us standing together.

May God comfort the bereaved, protect our people, and grant us the strength to overcome.

Long live Benue State.
Long live the Federal Republic of Nigeria.

With deep sorrow and unshaken hope,

Chief Michael Kaase Aondoakaa, SAN
Former Attorney-General & Minister of Justice

Lagos State Governor Babajide Sanwo-Olu’s achievements in the last six years in Lagos state have been described as a “monumental boost to democracy”.

The governor has received commendations for promoting democratic values and ideals through transformation, innovation, and relentless commitment to people-centered governance in the last six years which the struggles of “June 12” represent.

The Transparency Initiative Project (TIP) in commemoration of Democracy Day 2025, made the statement on Sunday after a thorough assessment of Governor Sanwo-Olu’s accomplishments in over half a decade.

According to the group, the June 12, 1993 presidential election remains one of the most poignant chapters in Nigeria’s democratic history and not merely an election.

The group’s convener, Yemen Ngutor said late Chief Moshood Kashimawo Olawale (M.K.O.) Abiola and others who fought for June 12 fought for equity, prosperity, dignity, and good governance which Sanwo-Olu’s administration has exemplified over the years.

Ngutor stressed that apart from the Lagos governor respecting the rule of law to the latter, he has shown exceptional quality in infrastructural development and providing governance that is touching the lives of nigerians beyond the state.

He disclosed that Sanwo-Olu who used the celebration of this year’s democracy day celebration to unveil a series of infrastructural projects in Ibeju-Lekki, is a further evidence of his administration’s commitment to grassroots development and inclusive governance.

“What democracy without development? What is the June 12 struggle and movement if states in the country do not develop? This is why Governor Sanwo-Olu is a shining light today.

“The struggle for June 12 is all about democracy and the promotion of democratic ideals entails providing good governance through infrastructure, human capital development, provision of a fair ground for everyone to thrive, and respecting the rule of law – and all these attributes we can gladly say Sanwo-Olu has been outstanding in all”.

Highlighting other areas of achievement under Governor Sanwo-Olu, the group had these to say: “In these years, transportation in Lagos has experienced a metamorphosis. Where traffic congestion once choked productivity, the government has made movement and mobility easy with the Lagos Blue Line Rail.

“The Red Line Rail is completed, moving over half a million commuters daily, easing pressure on roads and transforming lives in ways that asphalt alone never could. The government of Lagos rehabilitated and constructed over 970 roads, built interchanges, and flyovers, and launched water terminals that have opened our waterways as viable transport channels.

“Healthcare in Lagos today is amazing. From the General Hospitals that have been reborn with new infrastructure to the Mother and Child Centres built in underserved communities.

“In education, over 1,400 public schools have received infrastructural upgrades bringing them to what it means to learn in a 21st-century city.

“With the Eko Excel programme, thousands of public primary school teachers are now armed with digital tablets, delivering data-driven instructions to pupils eager to learn. And through the Eko Digital Initiative, students are trained in coding, robotics, and AI.

“The environment is getting its deserved attention. We are planting not just trees, but legacies of sustainability. Through enhanced waste management systems, drain de-silting efforts, and the revitalization of green spaces, Lagos is turning the page to a cleaner, greener chapter.

“In these six years, Governor Sanwo-Olu have laid over 2,700 kilometres of fibre optic cables, part of the larger 6,000 km Metro Fibre project that powers the broadband future of Lagos state.

“The state’s Art of Technology (AOT) conference birthed the Lagos Innovation Master Plan, which now supports startups, promotes civic tech, and has made Lagos the epicentre of Africa’s digital surge. Global tech giants Microsoft, Google, Meta, and others now see Lagos not as a footnote, but as a frontier.

“And as food security grows more globally, Lagos government have moved to feed the future with action, not rhetoric. The Lagos Rice Mill, Imota is Africa’s largest – now hums with activity, turning paddy into prosperity. The Lagos Food Logistics Hub in Epe is reimagining how agricultural produce is preserved, processed, and delivered. With over 20,000 farmers empowered.

“Commerce, industry, and investment have found a new rhythm in Lagos. The Lekki Deep Sea Port, the largest in West Africa, now stands as a gateway to the world, unlocking trade corridors and employment. With over $1.5 billion in foreign direct investment in just three years.

“In Job creation and wealth redistribution through the Lagos State Employment Trust Fund (LSETF), over 250,000 women and young people have been trained, financed, and mentored into viable livelihoods.

“In the area of Youth Development, the state created centres for fashion, tech, agriculture, or filmmaking and not forgetting Over 17,000 housing units delivered in cities within the city; Ikorodu, Lekki, Badagry, Surulere – all rising to meet the demand for dignity in dwelling,” the statement read.

Hon. Adekunle Abdulkabir Akinlade, a former member of the House of Representatives and gubernatorial candidate in Ogun State, has expressed strong support for President Bola Ahmed Tinubu’s proposed Forest Guards Program, calling it a timely and strategic intervention in Nigeria’s national security architecture. He also urged that the initiative be modeled after the United States Forest Rangers to ensure its effectiveness and sustainability.

Akinlade identified undocumented migration from the Sahel region as one of Nigeria’s most pressing national security threats. Commending President Tinubu’s foresight, he emphasized that the Forest Guards initiative is a step in the right direction towards safeguarding the nation’s vast forest reserves and rural territories.

According to Akinlade, Nigeria’s current security crisis has deep roots in the aftermath of Muammar Gaddafi’s fall in 2011, which led to the disbandment of his formidable 800,000 strong army; comprising only 30% Libyans and 70% foreign nationals from countries such as Mali, Niger, Chad, Sudan, and Senegal. He noted that the collapse of Libya’s military apparatus unleashed an uncontrollable wave of arms and combatants across the Sahel, fuelling armed rebellions and terrorism in the region.

“Intelligence reports reveal that Gaddafi had over 29 weapons bunkers scattered across the Sahel. After his death, many of these weapons fell into the hands of insurgents and non-state actors, further destabilizing the region. Nigeria has been a major casualty of that chaos,” Akinlade stated.

He emphasized that only a coordinated and strategic initiative such as the Forest Guards programme can meaningfully curb the violence, especially forest-based criminality like banditry, kidnapping, and illegal migration. If modeled after the U.S. Rangers, the programme would provide a vital, decentralized security buffer that supports the efforts of the Nigerian military and police.

However, Akinlade cautioned against placing the Forest Guards under the operational control of the Nigeria Police or the Armed Forces. Instead, he proposed the creation of a dedicated Federal/State security agency, fully focused on the Forest Guards mandate. He recommended a personnel structure made up of: 20% commissioned officers (graduates) after 9 months of training, 75% non-commissioned officers (school certificate holders) after 6 months of training, and 5% retired military and paramilitary officers to serve as instructors and field experts.

He advised that the Forest Guards Agency be domiciled within the Ministries of Forestry and Agriculture, with mandatory training conducted in partnership with the Nigeria Immigration Service to enhance capacity for migrant profiling and forest surveillance. This, he explained, would allow operatives to distinguish between Nigerian and foreign tribal groups—for instance, the Yoruba-speaking populations of Benin Republic and the Sahelian Fulani tribes.

Akinlade further stressed the importance of local inclusion, urging that indigenes, community leaders, and traditional rulers be integrated into the programme’s recruitment and operational structure. The Forest Guards, he argued, must be trained in the use of firearms, drone surveillance, infrared technology, and heat sensors, and be equipped with sufficient logistics to cover forest terrain. They should also possess the authority to apprehend and hand over suspects to relevant security agencies for prosecution or deportation.

Highlighting the economic implications, Akinlade said the program will provide employment across Nigeria’s 774 Local Government Areas, stimulate rural commerce, and contribute to local economic development. “This is more than a security initiative; it’s a socio-economic stimulus for underserved communities,” he noted.

He concluded by praising President Tinubu’s administration for its bold investments in national development, including the Lagos-Calabar coastal road, renewable energy projects, agricultural reform, aviation, the blue economy, and critical road infrastructure.

Hon. Akinlade called on all Nigerians regardless of political affiliation, ethnicity, or faith to support the Forest Guards programme. He also urged the National Assembly to treat the programme as a matter of urgent national importance and to enact necessary legislation to back its full implementation.

Signed:

Akinleye Olu-Phillips

Media Consultant to Hon. Adekunle Akinlade (Triple A)

Date: Monday, 16th June 2025