By Chiangi Avese, Makurdi
The Executive Governor of Benue State, Rev. Fr. Hyacinth Alia, has said that without adequate security in the state, Benue state as the Food Basket of the Nation would not be able to thrive and provide food security to the state and the nation at large.
The governor made this known on Monday when the newly posted Commissioner of police, CP Hasssan Steve Yabanet, paid him a courtesy visit at Government House, Makurdi.
Governor Alia explained that Benue was experiencing an infestation of insecurity, ranging from attacks by herders and unknown gunmen, leaving many camped at the IDP camps, adding that Yahoo Yahoo/419 people have equally flooded the capital and are hiding in hotels where they carry out their dubious acts.
“With your arrival of in the State as the new Commissioner of Police, who is no stranger in Benue having served here before, you are in the best position to comb the state and flush out criminals, thereby securing lives and property of the citizenry”, the governor enthused.
He 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.
Governor Alia lamented that, “even though it is farming season, the lands have been occupied by armed herders, but I am hopeful that with very active policing, a lot can be achieved to curb their menace”.
According to the Governor, “Benue as a state is not complicated, but that some individuals have chosen to destabilize the peace process in the state. The time for politicking is over, and as such, as the sitting governor, i will not allow any form of destabilization against my administration”.
He charged the new CP to ensure that everyone is law abiding, stressing that no single individual is above the law and all should act in accordance to the law, so as to ensure peace and sanity in the state.
While assuring the new CP of his administration’s readiness to collaborate with the police to ensure that peace returns to the state, Governor Alia also lamented about the numerous road blocks from Makurdi to Nassarawa, charging the Police Commissioner to equally ensure there is improvement in community relations so that the the police can interface and have a more personal and robust relationship with communities that are crisis ridden.
Earlier in his remarks, the Benue state Commissioner of police, Steve H. Yabanet said that 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, assuring 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.
He said he was going to kickstart the process of crime mapping in the state which will help in recognizing the flashpoints, warning all criminal elements to relocate from the state or face the full wrath of the law.
The CP recognized the importance of Benue as the food basket of the nation and assured that the police will safeguard the lives and properties of the citizenry.
