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The Inspector-General of Police (IGP), Olatunji Riliwan Disu, has reaffirmed the commitment of the Nigeria Police Force to restoring peace in Benue State, pledging intensified security operations to tackle the persistent farmer-herder crisis and other violent crimes.
Disu made the pledge during a strategic stakeholders' meeting held at the Benue State Government Banquet Hall in Makurdi after paying a working visit to Governor Hyacinth Alia. The engagement brought together traditional rulers, religious leaders, youth and women groups, farmers' associations, and other critical stakeholders to deliberate on the state's security challenges.
Addressing participants, the IGP described the proliferation of sophisticated firearms as a major factor fuelling recurring violence in many communities across the state. He stressed the need for stronger collaboration between security agencies and local communities to stem the tide of insecurity.
He commended Governor Alia and community leaders for their continued support to security agencies, noting that sustainable peace can only be achieved through active community participation and intelligence sharing.
Disu urged residents, particularly youths, to promptly report suspicious movements and criminal activities, assuring them that all information supplied to the police would be treated with the highest level of confidentiality.
The police chief also called for closer cooperation between conventional security agencies and local security outfits, emphasizing that safeguarding lives and property is a shared responsibility that requires collective action.
Responding, Governor Hyacinth Alia thanked the IGP for personally assessing the security situation in the state, describing the visit as a demonstration of the Nigeria Police Force's commitment to addressing Benue's security concerns.
The governor reiterated his administration's determination to provide a safe and secure environment where residents can live, work and engage in farming activities without fear of attacks.
Alia also praised the Commissioner of Police in Benue State, Cletus C. Nwadiogbu, for his efforts in combating crime and strengthening police-community relations across the state.
The Nigeria Police Force reaffirmed its resolve to continue working with the Benue State Government and other stakeholders to improve public safety, enhance intelligence-led policing and sustain public confidence in law enforcement.
