…Renews call for state police
Benue State Governor, Rev Fr. Hyacinth Alia has reaffirmed his administration’s unwavering commitment to strengthening security across the state through sustained collaboration with security agencies.
While expressing happiness with the process in establishing state police, the Governor noted that the development is a critical step towards addressing Nigeria’s security challenges.
Alia, who stated these on Thursday, July 23, 2026, at the Old Banquet Hall, Government House, Makurdi, during a town hall meeting with the Inspector-General of Police, IGP Tunji Rilwan Disu, who was in Benue on an operational assessment visit, stressed that the persistent attacks and loss of lives in Benue remained unacceptable.
He particularly stated that insecurity in the state’s agrarian communities also poses a serious threat to food security across the country.
Governor Alia described IGP Disu’s visit as timely and reassuring, noting amongst other things that it reflected the commitment of the Nigeria Police Force to enhancing internal security, promoting community policing and working closely with state governments to tackle insecurity.
He stated that his administration had consistently supported security agencies with operational vehicles, motorcycles, communication gadgets and other logistics, while at the same time strengthening inter-agency cooperation through regular Security Council meetings, intelligence sharing and coordinated operations.
The Governor pledged the state’s full support for the proposed 14-day security sweep across Benue.
Alia particularly commended President Bola Ahmed Tinubu for the Federal Government’s support in the fight against insecurity.
He also applauded the Commissioner of Police in Benue State for initiating grassroots community engagement, especially among youths, with plans to extend the initiative across the state.
Reiterating his long-held position on state policing, Governor Alia said the conversation should no longer be about whether Nigeria needs state police, but how to make it operational, arguing that officers with local knowledge of the terrain and communities would significantly improve security outcomes.
He charged traditional rulers, community leaders and residents to continue supporting security agencies through credible intelligence and peaceful coexistence, emphasizing that security is a collective responsibility.
The Governor assured IGP Disu of the state’s continued cooperation in all lawful efforts aimed at restoring lasting peace, adding that his administration remains committed to ensuring that internally displaced persons safely return to their ancestral communities.
He disclosed that many displaced persons had already voluntarily returned to their communities for this year’s farming season, while the state government, through the Ministry of Agriculture, would continue supporting them with farm inputs and measures to guarantee their safety.
While expressing confidence that sustained collaboration among all stakeholders would overcome the state’s security challenges, Governor Alia assured the Inspector-General of a successful operational visit and reaffirmed his administration’s resolve to build a peaceful, secure and prosperous Benue State.
