By Amos Aar
THE BENUE State Government has presented one hundred (100) operational Vehicles and six hundred (600) Combatant Motorcycles to security agencies to boost the fight against insecurity.
The government also inaugurated five thousand (5,000) personnel of the newly established Civil Protection Guards and the Joint Operation Task Force, codenamed “Anyamnyor”.
Performing the ceremony Saturday at the IBB Square, Makurdi, Governor Hyacinth Alia stated that the Civil Protection Guards outfit was established by law to complement conventional security agencies in checking the prevailing security challenges for a secure environment, safe focal habitation, and business operation.
He expressed appreciation to the federal government and President Bola Ahmed Tinubu for his support to the state, leading to the relative peace being experienced and the heads of security agencies for their cooperation towards the fight against criminality in rural areas.
The governor appreciated the personnel of the Civil Protection Guards for answering the clarion call to save their state, stressing that the joint operation, comprising the Army, Navy, Police, DSS, and Civil Defense, will be deployed in every local government area to ensure that security challenges are dealt with appropriately.
He urged those involved in criminality to take advantage of the extended amnesty program headed by the Catholic Bishop of Katsina-Ala Diocese before the deployment of the Joint Task Force.
In his remark, the Governor of Gombe State and chairman, Northern Governors Forum, Inuwa Yahaya, accompanied by Governor Mai Mala Buni of Yobe State, deputy governor of Kogi State, and representative of Taraba State governor, expressed solidarity with Governor Alia on his effort to the restoration of peace in the North Central zone.
He assured of the cooperation of the Northern Governors Forum to proffering a permanent solution to the farmer-herder crisis, which he described as the bane of insecurity in Benue and neighboring states.
In his goodwill message, the Inspector General of Police, Kayode Egbetokun, represented by the DIG Operations, Ali Mohamed, noted that security was the responsibility of all and commended the Benue State Government for the efforts to support security agencies through the purchase of operation vehicles, pledging the collaboration of the police to end insecurity in the state.
On his part, the Tor Tiv, His Royal Majesty, Prof. James Ayatse, on behalf of the Benue State Traditional Council, lauded Governor Alia for prioritising security, saying the donation of the operational vehicles was the best way of enhancing the effectiveness and efficiency of security agencies.
He pledged the support of traditional rulers in complementing efforts of the government to engender peace in the rural areas and charged the personnel of the Civil Protection Guards to always operate within their constitutional authority.
The occasion was attended by high-ranking political officers, including the National Chairman of the APC Alhaji Umar Ganduje and heads of security agencies in the state.
