President of the Nigerian Bar Association (NBA), Mazi Afam Osigwe, SAN, has reaffirmed the fundamental nature of security as a right owed to all Nigerians, not a privilege granted at will. He made this declaration at the NBA North-Central Security Summit held in Makurdi, Benue State.
The summit, themed “Strengthening Security, Rule of Law, and Justice Delivery in North-Central Nigeria,” was convened in partnership with the Benue State Government and attracted key stakeholders from across the region.
In his keynote address, Osigwe cited Section 14 of the 1999 Constitution, emphasizing that national security is a constitutional obligation of the state. He decried the alarming security situation in the region, referencing the recent kidnapping of six law students traveling to law school, as well as the massacre of over 200 civilians in Benue’s Yelewata community.
“These are not isolated tragedies. They reflect a larger breakdown in our security framework,” he said. “We must prioritize intelligence-gathering and proactive, multi-stakeholder collaboration to break these deadly cycles.”
Osigwe urged attendees including policymakers, security experts, traditional rulers, and legal professionals to propose sustainable, locally grounded solutions that can restore peace and justice to the region.
“Security is everyone’s responsibility,” he noted. “And it begins with strong, courageous conversations like the ones we are having at this summit.”
He expressed optimism that the deliberations would produce actionable policies to address insecurity and strengthen justice delivery mechanisms in the North-Central zone and beyond.
The post “Security Is Your Right, Not A Privilege” — NBA President Osigwe Declares At North-Central Security Summit In Benue From Searchng.NG abijohn.com .