AN ASSESSMENT OF THE BENUE STATE AMNESTY PROGRAMS

Abstract

This paper is an assessment of the Benue State amnesty programs. The paper
employed a descriptive research layout. Data was acquired mainly through
secondary sources. The failed state theory is used as a framework to guide our
analysis. Extant literature has also been reviewed. The paper is situated against
the security challenges confronting Benue state for quite some time now.
Conflicts emanating from herders/farmers clashes over land resources have
however been more pronounced. Nevertheless, criminal youth gangs in several
parts of the state engaged in terrorizing towns and villages killing, raping,
kidnapping, robbing, and carrying out many heinous crimes. These crimes are
perpetrated due to the proliferation of small and light weapons in the hands of
the youth, many of whom had been armed by politicians to fight their dirty
battles in order to win elections at all costs. It is against this backdrop that the
Ortom administration launched the Benue State Amnesty programs on May 29 th ,
2015 at IBB square in order to recover these weapons from the youth and train
them to engage in socially acceptable employment and consequently reduce
crime in Benue State. These Amnesty programs were carried out to the end.
Nevertheless, there is controversy about their outcome. While the Ortom
administration contends that, the amnesty programs have succeeded in reducing
crime and unemployment rates in the state, critics of the administration have
submitted that the amnesty programs have failed woefully and it’s evident in the
increasing crime and unemployment rates in the state.