Yuletide: Police Command strengthens security in Benue towns, hinterlands

From Dooshima Terkura, Makurdi

Ahead of Christmas and New Year celebrations, the Benue State Police Command said they have emplaced series of proactive measures to ensure security of lives and properties before, during and beyond the celebrations.

The Commissioner of Police in the state, CP Ifeanyi Emenari stated this while speaking to newsmen in his office in Makurdi saying “We don’t want to wait to be taken unawares.”

CP Emenari said his management team have been posted out to the hinterlands while all the area commands are been manned by DCs, ACs, just as the area commanders are also on ground.

The Commissioner said sensitive divisions, too, are being manned by the Assistant Commissioner of Police from the headquarters here, with tactical teams posted to all the troubled areas.

He noted “We have emplaced heightened presence of fully efficient and competent tactical police teams across the state and as we speak they are there maintaing their positions in all the nooks and crannies of the state especially seemingly volatile divisions or towns.”

He encouraged members of the public to be security conscious and report any suspicious movement to their local DPO, the Area Commanders, and the tactical teams commanders.

He assured that the police are working with sister security agencies in all the divisions; the military, civil defense, Civil Protection Guard, the Forest Guards, Hunters Association, the LG Chairmen, and his management team are coordinating, to ensure that all citizens living in the state celebrate peacefully.

He appreciated the Inspector General of Police, IGP Kayode Egbetokun and the state Governor, Rev Fr Hyacinth Alia for their support to the command which he said has resulted to the reduction of attacks in the state.

“Most importantly, I have to thank God and I have to appreciate the IGP and the State Governor. The IGP pushed in logistics and manpower; tactical teams that we need to do the work and the Governor supports morally and in welfare.

“If you check now all the threats we used to have in Yelewata, Ukohol, Udei, Daudu, we are not seeing them again. The IGP also approved the upgrade of some police stations to Divisional Headquarters including Yelewata Division and since we posted a DPO there, we have not been having any serious incidents.

The CP also appreciated the Benue media for their support and for pushing out positive narratives to de-escalate tensions.

He further urged the people of Benue state to be conscious of their environment saying “Everybody has to secure his place, you have to secure yourself, but work with the divisional police officers so that you don’t secure yourself outside the law.”