Benue State Denies Links With Private Security Firm Affiliated To Boko Haram

The Benue State Government in North Central Nigeria has debunked allegations that it has sanctioned the launch of a private security outfit, Al-Tershak Global Security Limited established by Alhaji Aliyu Tershaku in the state.

Benue State Deputy Governor, Dr. Sam Ode made the denial at a press briefing in Makurdi, the State Capital.

He urged the people of the state to discountenance the allegation which he noted was emanating from “mischievous elements to drag the Benue State Government led by Rev. Fr. Hyacinth Alia into a non-existent controversy.”

It would be recalled that the Peoples Democratic Party, PDP on June 8, 2023 raised an alarm over the inauguration of a private security outfit in Makurdi the State Capital which it said had the nod of Governor Alia’s approval.

The PDP in a statement issued by its State Publicity Secretary, Mr Bemgba Iortyom had alleged that the Deputy Governor of the State, Dr Sam Ode commissioned the national headquarters of the security outfit through his Chief Protocol Officer, Mr Gabriel Igoche.

The party particularly expressed concern that the proprietor of the security outfit, Mr. Aliyu Teshaku is a profiled member of the dreaded Boko Haram terrorist organisation which also has links with other armed banditry groups in the country.

The Publicity Secretary said, “The security outfit which is known to have among its top commanders men of Fulani ethnic stock and whose founder, Aliyu Tershaku is profiled by security agencies as a suspected Boko Haram terrorist, has already swung into operation with its operatives sited over the last couple of days in parts of Makurdi, the Benue State capital city”.

However, addressing Journalists in Makurdi on the lingering issue, the Deputy Governor, Dr. Sam Ode denied any romance between the administration and the security organisation.

He said, “The security of lives and property is on the front burner of the Alia-led administration in Benue State with a strong commitment to return Internally Displaced Persons, IDPs back to their ancestral lands.”

Although, the Deputy Governor confirmed that the Chief Protocol Officer, Mr Gabriel Igoche personally graced and spoke at the inauguration of the security outfit, he did so in his capacity, as “the State Government did not authorize anyone to represent it at the commissioning ceremony.”

Also, Governor Hyacinth Alia through his Chief Press Secretary, Tersoo Kula has equally denied any knowledge of the outfit even implying that the Chief Protocol Officer to the Deputy Governor who was purported to have represented the administration acted in his capacity, despite reports indicating to the contrary.

But according to PDP, the Chief Protocol Officer to the Deputy Governor of the state who represented his boss on behalf of the Alia administration indicated in his remarks the administration’s recognition and resolve to work with the outfit and advised its leaders to carefully profile their operatives.

PDP also recalled that in April 2022, a group known as Nigeria Hunters and Forest Security Guards sprang up on the streets of Makurdi, but in less than 48 hours, former Governor Samuel Ortom swung into action ordering the arrest of leaders of the outfit and effectively proscribing its activities in the state.

During the commissioning ceremony, the founder of the security outfit, Aliyu Tershaku, had maintained that the security outfit would be working to resettle farmers displaced by Fulani herdsmen in the state back to their ancestral lands.

Mercy Chukwudiebere