Insecurity: Gov. Alia bans protest, approves establishment of Bureau of homeland Security in Benue

From Attah Ede, Makurdi

Benue State Security Council, on Friday, announced the establishment of a Bureau of Homeland Security in a bid to effectively address security challenges confronting the State.

The bureau will coordinate and liaise between the office of the governor and the security agencies, for immediate responses on security matters in Benue state.

Governor Hyacinth Alia stated this on Friday, after a joint security meeting, held at Government House, Makurdi.

Alia, who was represented by his deputy, Sam Ode, said the Security Council had agreed that the Bureau be headed by a Director General, who would be appointed by the governor.

On the recent attacks in Ukum local government area, the Security Council directed that the curfew in the entire Sankera area of the state continued, while further ban be placed on protest in the entire axis until further notice.

According to the governor, the Council also agreed that a Judicial Panel of Inquiry be set up by the government to look into the destruction of government and private properties in Ukum, as a result of the recent protest in the area.

They equally frowned at the increasing number of illegal checkpoints in the state, urging all security agencies in the state to work together in synergy, so as to effectively combat crimes in Benue.

The security council also insisted that the Benue State law against Matching Ground still remain effective and operational and will soon be gazetted and made available to the public.

The Security Council further directed the Special Adviser on security to work in collaboration with the Ministry of Information, Culture and Tourism, to organize a workshop and sensitize the people on the dangers of illicit drugs and human trafficking in the state.

On the request for the allocation of plots of land to Federal Agencies to erect structures, the Benue State Security Council maintained that extensive consultations would be carried out on the matter in order to ensure a fair treatment of all concerned.

A statement issued and made available to newsmen in Makurdi by the Chief Press Secretary, Tersoo Kula, said the Zonal Commander, National Agency for the Prohibition of Trafficking in Persons (NAPTIP), Makurdi Zonal Office, Gloria Iveren Bai, has said the Benue girls that were trafficked to Ivory Coast have been brought back home and are currently in rehabilitation.

She spoke shortly after the Security meeting at the Government House, Makurdi, on Thursday.

Kula quoted the commander as saying that, the lady who took them to Ivory Coast in the guise of getting a job for them, has been arrested and will soon be charged to court.

CPS said Mrs Bai commended the efforts of the Benue State government for ensuring the girls’ return back to the state, advising parents, guardians and job seekers to always be on the watch out, in order to safeguard against issues of trafficking.