The Benue State Government says security is improving across the state and supports the establishment of state police to strengthen efforts to protect lives and property.
The government attributes the reported improvement to support from the Federal Government, community engagement and preventive measures aimed at identifying security threats before they escalate.
The Special Adviser to Governor Hyacinth Alia on Rural Development and Community Mobilisation, Honourable Mathias Agbo Omikpa, disclosed this in an interview with Voice of Nigeria in Abuja.
He said the state government was strengthening communication with communities to improve intelligence gathering and encourage residents to report suspicious activities.
Omikpa described security as a shared responsibility involving government, security agencies and residents, particularly in communities affected by farmer-herder clashes and other security challenges.
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Community Security
The governor’s aide said the state was encouraging residents to report suspicious movements, unfamiliar persons and other potential threats through established communication channels.
“We reach out to communities and inform them, ‘You see something, you speak.’ Who do you speak to? Who do you talk to? Who are new in your communities? What do you suspect?” he said.
According to Omikpa, the approach is designed to strengthen early warning systems and prevent attacks rather than respond only after incidents have occurred.
He said reported incidents involving farmers and herders, as well as attacks by invaders, had decreased, expressing hope that the improvement would continue.
The aide added that the government wanted farmers and other residents to carry out their daily activities without fear.
However, he did not provide statistics or a specific timeframe to substantiate the reported decline in security incidents.
Support State Police
On the proposed establishment of state police, Omikpa expressed support for the initiative, saying Governor Alia would respond proactively and in line with the wishes of the people.
He said the state government was already providing resources, including vehicles, to support security operatives and welcomed additional measures to strengthen security operations.
“I know my Governor will be very, very proactive and would work in line with whatever the people want,” he said.
The National Assembly announced that it had transmitted the constitutional amendment bill seeking to establish state police services to all 36 State Houses of Assembly on September 16, 2026, for consideration and approval.
The Speaker of the Benue State House of Assembly, Rt. Hon. Berger Alfred Emberga, also confirmed receipt of the bill.
The proposed constitutional amendment is part of wider efforts to address Nigeria’s security challenges and determine the framework for establishing state police services.
Omikpa said the Benue government looked forward to the initiative, adding that stronger security arrangements would help residents, farmers and businesses operate safely.
Return of IDPs
Omikpa also said Governor Alia was committed to facilitating the return of internally displaced persons (IDPs) to their ancestral communities.
He described the issue as a priority for the governor, noting that the return of displaced residents would help restore farming activities, support livelihoods and strengthen food production.
“The Governor, this is so dear to him, to return IDPs to their various places so that the basket we spoke about can continue to be full and replenished,” he said.
Benue is a major agricultural state, and insecurity-related displacement can disrupt access to farmland, household livelihoods and food supplies.
The government’s stated priority is therefore to improve security and enable displaced residents to return home and resume their economic activities.
