“Security Is Your Right, Not a Privilege” – NBA President Declares at North-Central Security Summit in Benue State
The President of the Nigerian Bar Association (NBA), Mazi Afam Osigwe, SAN, has affirmed that security is a fundamental right of every citizen, not a privilege. He made this assertion while delivering his goodwill message at the ongoing NBA North-Central Security Summit in Makurdi, Benue State.
The summit, themed “Strengthening Security, Rule of Law, and Justice Delivery in North-Central Nigeria,” is being held in collaboration with the Benue State Government.
Citing Section 14 of the 1999 Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria (as amended), Osigwe emphasized the primary responsibility of the state to ensure the security and welfare of its citizens.
Highlighting the region’s alarming insecurity, Afam Osigwe referenced the recent kidnapping of six law students en route to law school and the brutal killings in Benue State, including the massacre of over 200 civilians in Yelewata community. He stressed that intelligence-gathering and proactive collaboration among stakeholders are crucial to breaking cycles of violence.
He called on participants, including security experts, policymakers, community leaders, and legal professionals, to craft locally informed, sustainable security and justice strategies. He emphasized that security is everyone’s responsibility and encouraged active participation in the summit deliberations.
Osigwe further expressed hope for a successful and transformative summit, yielding actionable solutions for peace and justice in Nigeria’s troubled North-Central region.
