- Says insurgency is increasing in Benue
Benue State Governor, Rev. Fr. Hyacinth Alia, has reiterated his demand for the immediate establishment of State Police in Nigeria, noting that the present centralized security structure has failed to properly and effectively address the lingering attacks and killings in parts of the country, particularly Benue.
This was as Governor Alia stressed the need for a regional approach to ranching, and appealed to the First Lady, Senator Remi Tinubu, to champion the domestication of the Open Grazing Prohibition and Ranches Establishment Law across the North Central region.
The Governor, who stated these when he received Senator Remi Tinubu, who was in the Benue State to condole with the people over the continued loss of lives and displacement caused by violent attacks, emphasized that a decentralized and locally controlled police force is critical to improving security response, intelligence gathering, and accountability in vulnerable communities.
In the words of Alia; “The current security architecture has not proven sufficient in curbing the incessant attacks on our communities.
“It is time for Nigeria to embrace State Police as a practical and necessary step towards securing lives, property, and peace across the nation,” he emphasised.
The Governor further argued that uniform enforcement across states would eliminate safe havens for violators moving across borders, noting that over 1.5 million Internally Displaced Persons (IDPs), are currently spread across camps and host communities in the state, with new camps emerging in Makurdi and Naka as a result of recent attacks.
A statement by Sir Tersoo Kula, Chief Press Secretary to the Governor of Benue State, stated that Governor Alia particularly commended Senator Tinubu for her compassion and multiple interventions through the Renewed Hope Initiative (RHI), which have benefitted women, youths, traders, and vulnerable groups in Benue State.
“The people of Benue State are sincerely grateful. Your visit is not just symbolic; it is impactful and healing,” the Governor said.
The First Lady, Mrs. Tinubu, who condoled Governor Alia, Tor Tiv and the people of the state over the recent massacre at Yelewata, donated N1b to help rebuild and resettle displaced families who lost lives and property in tragedies perpetrated by marauding armed herders.
