Benue State Governor, Rev Fr. Hyacinth Alia has canvassed the adoption of “collaborative approaches to strengthening security and regional stability,” in the country.
Governor Alia, who stated this on Monday, August 31, 2026 at the New Banquet Hall, Government House, Makurdi while welcoming participants of the North-Central Regional Security Summit, stressed the need for the geo-political zone to move from rhetoric to concrete, community‑led action to stem rising insecurity.
He also emphasized that long‑term solutions must extend beyond military deployments to include traditional rulers, border communities and grassroots intelligence‑sharing.
The North-central Security Submit hosted by Governor Alia witnessed the convergence of Governors, security chiefs, community leaders and stakeholders from the zone in Benue State.
Alia said; “The moment we set aside our differences to confront the enemy of insecurity; half the battle is already won, Collaboration must translate into practical measures that reach custodians of the land who often have early warning of threats”.
Organisers of the Summit led by the Federal Ministry of Defence in partnership with the Office of the Senior Special Assistant to the President on Community Engagement, described the summit as a strategic effort to “localize” security responses to banditry, farmer‑herder clashes, kidnappings, violent‑extremist spillovers and organised crime across the region.
Governor Alia said he pushed for the state to host the meeting because of the historic insecurity along the Benue–Plateau axis.
He further argued that effective responses require confronting the socio‑economic drivers of crime, including poverty and idleness, alongside improved intelligence‑sharing and community engagement.
Framing the North Central’s stability as vital to national welfare, the governor highlighted the region’s role in food production and mineral resources, warning that insecurity there threatens food security and supply chains nationwide.
“When the North Central is insecure, it is not only our problem, the whole country feels it on its dining table,” he said.
A statement by Sir Tersoo Kula, Chief Press Secretary to the Governor of Benue State, said that Governor Alia appealed to delegates to ensure the summit produces durable institutional outcomes rather than mere speeches.
He also urged for the implementation of operational recommendations that can outlast individual administrations.
Governor Alia commended President Bola Ahmed Tinubu’s commitment towards tackling insecurity and called on all participants to align with the summit’s objectives.
