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From Scholastica Hir, Makurdi
The Special Adviser on Security and Internal Affairs, Benue State, Joseph Har has tackled former Commissioner of Education in the state, Dennis Ityavyar, over his statements that Governor Alia’s administration failed in improving on the security situation in the state.
Ityavyar has alleged that the inaction of Alia had lead to wanton destruction of property and loss of lives in the past two years of his administration.
Har, in a statement made available to newsmen in Makurdi,noted that the Benue State Government has consistently taken bold and proactive steps to addressing the insecurity challenges in the state, sating that it was unfortunate that the former Commissioner refused to acknowledge the efforts of the state Governor.
He said: “I am compelled to educate the Prof what Security functions are and the grand strides Alia has made since assumption of office.
Security functions are often times mistaken for mere opening/closing the gate for industrial and corporate security and boots on the ground for political governance.
“Maybe, the Prof misunderstood the role of the Governor to include: carrying the rifle to confront the enemy himself otherwise he would have noticed the very efforts made to douse the rot that was created hitherto in Benue state that witnessed bloodbath in the state in 11 LGAs: Ukum, Logo, Katsina Ala, Guma, Makurdi, Gwer West, Gwer East, Agatu, Apa, Kwande and Otukpo.
While he noted that the efforts of Alia’s administration first reduced the security menace to nine LGAs and later to four, adding that since assumption of office in May 2023, Alia has taken bold and proactive steps to addressing the complex security challenges facing Benue state, particularly the persistent threats of banditry, armed herders, communal clashes, and criminal gangs.
The Security Adviser listed some crime prevention strategies Alia administration had introduced to combat the persistent threats of banditry, armed herders, communal clashes, and criminal gangs across the state, saying that the Governor had initiated Crime Prevention through Environmental Design, which he said focused on designing the environment in such a manner that would deter the criminal with the fear of being detected.
He said: “This strategy which makes the environment easy for surveillance partially existed during the Gabriel Suswam led administration, but which went distinct after the end of his tenure until the emergence of Rev Fr Alia where the state is lighted with powerful solar lights and trimming of overgrown trees causing people to sometimes forget to put on their headlights while driving at night.
“This had deterred and drastically reduced cases of phone and vehicle snatching in the state “Crime Prevention through Social Development (CPTSD) is another crime prevention strategy that targets the root causes of crime by giving attention to social and economic factors that contribute to criminal behaviours.
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“This can be done through the provision of job opportunities to remove criminals from the street, helping school dropouts through skills programs, provision of social amenities among others .
The security adviser noted that the present administration noticing the gap that exist in the huge number of unprotected spaces took the bull by the horns to strengthen the Benue state quasi security agents and at the same time harmonize the synergy of the conventional security agencies for more robust engagements.
Har ,who is also Deputy Protection General, Benue State Civil Protection Guards (BCPG), said that Alia administration had involved traditional rulers in the state in crime prevention.
According to the statement: “This administration has returned the regards and are working to positioning the Traditional Rulers with the status they deserved. This administration in partnership with Strengthening Peace and Resilience in Nigeria (SPRING) has organised capacity building workshop for Traditional Rulers in Benue state on how to police their communities.
He further explained that the security situation in the state has improved tremendously after the visit of President Bola Tinubu to the state after the gruesome killings of about 200 people in Yelwata ,adding that Alia’s administration has also harmonized the synergy of the conventional security agencies for more robust engagements.
The statement further read in parts: “Parts of the present administration’s efforts is strengthened collaboration with federal security agencies, including Operation Whirl Stroke, to repel attacks and restore peace in troubled areas.
“Establishment of community policing initiatives and vigilante reforms to improve grassroots intelligence gathering and early response through the act of state parliament to merge the Volunteer and Livestock guards to form the Benue State Civil Protection Guards with robust standard operating procedures (SOPs) which many now refer to as the “Benue model”
“Timely support to displaced communities, including return strategies and food/security interventions for IDPs has been the priority of this administration witnessed in Agatu, Kwande, Guma Agatu, Makurdi etc should not have escaped the notice of the Prof.
“I challenge the Prof to state anywhere in Benue that there was an attack and the governor did not go either himself or through the representation of the deputy governor or any of us his security Advisers. I am suspecting that the Prof is even unaware of the sustainable development efforts that led to the establishment of the mega IDP camp on Gbajimba road and the supply of farming inputs to the people for modest farming?
“Deployment of modern surveillance tools beginning in the state capital and reinforcement of military (the Naval base, additional Army battalions, Mopol squadrons) and paramilitary presence in Benue state received wide media coverage that only those with ulterior motives will not notice it.
“These interventions have reduced the frequency and scale of attacks in previously volatile LGAs such as Guma, Gwer West, Katsina Ala, Logo, Ukum, Gwer West, Agatu, Makurdi, Apa, and Kwande. Governor Alia’s administration is not claiming perfection, but the trajectory is clear: we are securing Benue with focus, determination, and sincerity of purpose,” he said.
