Ezza Group demands Synergy to tackle prevailing Security Challenges in Benue

From Attah Ede, Makurdi 

The leadership of a foremost socio-cultural organisation in Ado local government area of Benue State, Ezza Ezekuna People’s Patriotic Congress (EEPPC), has demanded that there should be Synergy to tackle prevailing Security Challenges in the state.

The group who met with the Special Adviser to  Governor Hyacinth Alia, on Security and Internal Affairs, Chief Joseph Har,  stressed the need to seek for synergy between the state’s security outfit, Civil Protection Guards (CPG) and Ado local government council to address the prevailing security challenges in the area.

The local government council chairman, Sunday Oche led the group on the visit to the Adviser.

Speaking during the visit, the council boss noted that the aim of the visit was to appreciate the efforts of the CPG in maintaining peace in Ado and see how they can come together to ensure peace is maintain in their communities.

According to him, the security issues were thwarting his efforts to emulate the development initiatives of his principal, Rev. Fr. Hyacinth Alia, despite his unwavering commitment to eradicating insecurity in his local government.

He added that his strategic synergy with the local security architecture, particularly the CPG, whose numerical strength and availability have been instrumental, has bolstered the morale of security personnel, thereby enhancing their effectiveness in ensuring a safer Ado Local Government Area and commended the CPG over the  way they handled the recent kidnapping incident and other crimes in Ado.

He noted that nine Catholic Church worshippers were abducted by bandits who infiltrated from neighbouring states to perpetrate criminal acts against the citizens of Ado. 

He appreciated the CPG for their diligent efforts, which he said aided the rescue of the nine abducted persons unharmed and without payment of ransom.

He further expressed gratitude to the Ezza Ezekuna People’s Patriotic Congress for their support for security efforts in the locality, specifically noting that the group recently donated two combat motorcycles to the CPG to enhance mobility.

He called for increased collaboration to combat insecurity, which has evolved to include cattle rustling affecting local farmers, kidnapping, and banditry.

In his response, the Security Adviser, Chief Joseph Har, commended the CPG personnel in the local government for their performance.

Har appreciated the efforts of the Ezza Ezekuna People’s Patriotic Congress and encouraged them and others to continue supporting security initiatives, emphasising that security is a collective responsibility and should not be left to the government alone. 

He assured that once modalities are finalised, the training team will conduct further training for personnel.

According to him, Ado as a local government bordering Ebonyi and Kogi states, the operational dynamics of criminals are likely to shift, necessitating constant training and retraining of security personnel to match their new modus operandi.

He stressed the need to recruit more personnel, as the current number is inadequate for a terrain like Ado Local Government Area.