I’ll Not Allow Any Form Of Destabilisation In Benue State – Gov. Alia Vows

Benue State Governor, Rev. Fr. Hyacinth Alia, has said that since the time for politicking was over, he as the sitting governor, would not allow any form of destabilization against his administration.

This was as he said that without adequate security, the state as the Food Basket of the Nation would not be able to thrive and provide need food security to the state and the nation at large.

Alia, who stated these when he received the newly posted Commissioner of police, CP Hasssan Steve Yabane, at the Government House, Makurdi, explained that Benue State was experiencing an infestation of insecurity, ranging from attacks by herders and unknown gunmen thereby leaving many to be camped at the IDP camps.

Governor Alia said that Benue is not a complicated state, except that some individuals have chosen to destabilize the peace process in the state,

He therefore charged the new Commissioner of Police to ensure that everyone is law abiding, stressing that no single individual is above the law and all should act in accordance with the law in order to guarantee peace and sanity in the state.

This was as he said that Yahoo Yahoo/419 people have equally flooded the State capital and are hiding in hotels where they carry out their dubious acts.

Alia however, expressed confidence that with the arrival of the new commissioner of Police, whom he said was no stranger in Benue having served in the state before, he was in the best position to comb the state and flush out criminals, with a view to secure lives and property of the citizenry.

The Governor called for alertness and action from the police, especially in the local governments most hit by insecurity, namely Kwande, Katsina/Ala, Logo, Ukum, Guma, parts of Makurdi, Gwer West and parts of  Gwer East, and also Apa and Agatu local government areas.

He lamented that even though it was farming season, the lands have been occupied by armed herders, but expressed the hope that with active policing, a lot can be achieved to curb their menace.

While assuring of his administration’s readiness to collaborate with the police to ensure that peace returns to the state, Governor Alia also lamented over the numerous road blocks from Makurdi to Nassarawa, charging the Police Commissioner to equally ensure there is improvement in community relations so that the police can interface and have a more personal and robust relationship with communities that are crisis ridden.

Earlier, Commissioner of Police, Steve H. Yabane, said he was familiar with the terrain of Benue, having lived and served in the state before and was already aware of the challenges facing the state.

He assured that he will duplicate his security prowess in Plateau State in Benue, so as to ensure that the state is rid of all criminal elements.

CP Yabane said he was going to kickstart the process of crime mapping in the state which will help in recognizing the flashpoints and therefore warned criminal elements to relocate from the state or face the full wrath of the law.