Benue State Governor Hyacinth Alia has reiterated his appeal for the establishment of state police, stating that the national conversation must shift from debating the necessity of decentralised policing to addressing its operational implementation.
Governor Alia made these remarks on Thursday while hosting the Inspector-General of Police (IGP), Olatunji Disu, during an operational assessment and security town hall meeting at the Government House in Makurdi.
“The conversation should no longer be about whether Nigeria needs state police but how to make it operational,” the governor said. “Security is most effective when those protecting our communities understand the people, the terrain, and the local realities.”
The governor described the IGP’s visit as timely, noting that it reflects the Nigeria Police Force’s commitment to strengthening internal security, promoting community policing, and deepening collaboration with state governments. He emphasised that persistent attacks on Benue communities are unacceptable, warning that the violence poses a critical threat to both lives and Nigeria’s food security, given the state’s strategic role as the country’s “food basket.”
Governor Alia noted that his administration continues to support security agencies with operational vehicles, motorcycles, communications equipment, and logistics, while enhancing intelligence sharing and inter-agency coordination. He pledged full support for a proposed 14-day security sweep across the state, adding: “Together, we will continue to deny criminals any haven.”
