INAUGURATION OF THE BENUE STATE CIVIL PROTECTION GUARDS BY GOVERNOR HYACINTH IORMEM ALIA
By Dr. Charles Iornumbe,
Former DG Radio Benue Corporation, Makurdi.
Looking at the Alia administration’s working document: ‘A Strategic Development Plan For A Greater Benue’ where the Seven Point Agenda have been highlighted, security of lives and property is a key component.
This position demonstrates the seriousness the Alia administration has attached to the entire security architecture of Benue State.
No doubt, there can never be any meaningful development in society without conscious efforts at ensuring a harmonious and peaceful co-existence as well as securing lives and property of the citizens.
Although, there is said to be relative peace in Benue at the moment, that is not without some pockets of security challenges to warrant government to sleep as evident in cases of instability in parts of the State.
A good example is the alleged attacks on some Agatu communities by people suspected to be militia men where scores of lives had been lost with many persons displaced as a result of the incident.
Other places in Benue where there had been attacks on the people include parts of Logo and Kwande Local Government areas with social unrest leading to closure of schools and hampering socioeconomic progress of the State.
The internal security challenge being experienced in parts of the Sankera geo political axis over a period of time now not withstanding, has equally contributed to crumbling the economy of the State in some ways never imagined.
It is in the light of these, therefore, that, the Executive Governor of Benue State, Reverend Father Dr. Hyacinth Iormem Alia last Saturday being the 14th December 2024 inaugurated five thousand Officers of the Benue State Civil Protection Guards BSCPG in Makurdi.
Benue State Civil Protection Guards is coming at the heels of Benue’s expectations of the Alia administration’s readiness to combat criminality and secure Benue State.
At the inauguration of the Guards at IBB Square, Makurdi Security Agencies took delivery of one hundred new Toyota Hilux vans in addition to six hundred Special Combatant Motorcycles courtesy of the Governor who, during the occasion, unveiled a Joint Security Task Force with an operational name: “Anyam Nyôr”.
Governor Alia also announced the donation of two Armoured Personnel Carriers APC to the State government by the Inspector General of Police IGP to further strengthen operations of the Joint Task Force.
Established by law, the Benue State Civil Protection Guards BSCPG is meant to complement efforts of the conventional security apparatuses by way of synergising and comparing notes on security challenges and adopting global best practices in tackling same.
These initiatives according to Governor Alia were aimed at fortifying the security architecture of the state, thus enabling the Agencies to combat criminality in a decisive manner as to ensure that the people of Benue lived together, worked and farmed in peace without molestation from external forces.
In an address, Governor Alia said the remaining five thousand Officers of the Benue State Civil Protection Guards would be recruited and inaugurated in due course to complete the ten thousand number of the Personnel his administration had earlier in the past, promised to recruit.
Following inauguration of the BSCPG, the Alia administration is set to tackle insecurity headlong especially with the demonstration of this purposeful commitment and unwavering support given to the various Security Agencies in the State.
There would be no room for excuses by both the personnel of BSCPG and those of the conventional security apparatuses as they were now better trained and equipped with state of the art equipment in fighting insecurity.
From the look of things, Governor Hyacinth Alia has got the backing of the Federal Government and his Colleague Governors especially those of North Central Nigeria as well as other well meaning Nigerians to combat all forms of criminality in Benue State.
This can be seen in the weight thrown behind the Governor during the inauguration of the Benue State Civil Protection Guards by first, the President of the Federal Republic of Nigeria Senator Ahmed Bola Tinubu GCFR and representative of the Northern Governors Forum and Governor of Gombe State Alhaji Inuwa Yahaya.
Others whose support to Governor Alia’s security initiative was equally visible enough and unquantifiable were the National Chairman of the All Progressives Congress APC Alhaji Umar Ganduje who stormed IBB Square during the inauguration with some members of the National Working Committee of the ruling party as well as the Traditional and Security Chiefs.
It is important to invite the good people of Benue State to take ownership of the new Benue State Civil Protection Guards and the Operation ‘Anyam Nyôr’ both of which now have the mandate of working in synergy to fight insecurity across the State.
Personnel of BSCPG on their part should be professional in dealing with the people as the state of the art equipment given to them is not a guarantee to mistreat unsuspecting members of the Society but to rather protect them and their property.
It would not be out of place if members of the public would cooperate with the new Security Outfits by way of gathering and sharing intelligence on matters that could help nip criminality in the bud whenever the need arises.
It is important to note that, Governor Hyacinth Alia’s Amnesty Programme chaired by the Tor Tiv, Orchivirigh, Professor James Ayatse has begun to yield positive results as can be seen in the return of peace in Sankera land courtesy of one of the Anchors of the programme and Bishop of Katsina Ala Catholic Diocese, Most Reverend Isaac Bundepuun Dugu.
The call by Governor Alia for the people to fully take advantage of the Amnesty Programme, vigorously pursued by the State Amnesty Committee was genuine because the amnesty process offers a significant opportunity for those involved in criminal activities to reintegrate into society.
We must express appreciation to President Bola Ahmed Tinubu for his steadfast support, as well as the National Security Adviser, Service Chiefs, the Inspector-General of Police and all Benue’s security partners who have worked tirelessly to help actualise this laudable feat.
The Benue State Traditional Council led by the Tor Tiv, His Royal Majesty, Orchivirigh Prof. James Ayatse, the Ochi Idoma, His Royal Majesty Chief John Elaigwu Odogbo and all their Lieutenants in the state need to be acknowledged for their untiring efforts.
Not left out in the appreciation are the APC National Chairman, Alhaji Umar Ganduje and members of the National Working Committee of the party, Northern Governors Forum led by the Chairman and Governor of Gombe State, Alhaji Inuwa Yahaya as well as the Clergy particularly the Bishop of Katsina Ala Catholic Diocese, Most Reverend Isaac Dugu whose efforts have paved the way for successful implementation of the State Amnesty Programme in Sankera.
Governor Alia should be commended for his administration’s security initiatives which are geared towards eliminating all forms of criminality in Benue while all well meaning Citizens join hands to ensure that BSCPG and Operation ‘Anyam Nyôr’ succeed for the task of securing Benue should be viewed as everyone’s responsibility.
Governor Hyacinth Alia inaugurates the Benue State Civil Protection Guards (BSCPG) as part of his administration’s commitment to enhancing security in Benue. With the launch of “Operation Anyam Nyôr,” advanced equipment, and a robust Amnesty Programme, the initiative aims to combat criminality and foster peace in the state.
