Scholastica Hir, Makurdi
The Benue State government has trained members of the Nigeria Hunters and Forest Security Service, (NHFSS), to boost security and peace keeping in the state.
The hunters were trained by men of the 72 Special Forces Battalion to sharpen their skills and capacity for the task ahead.
Speaking at the closing ceremony in Makurdi, the state Governor, Rev Fr Hyacinth Alia, said the capacity training and discipline undergone in the last four days by the hunters will no doubt impact the state positively.
He commended the operatives for their sacrifice and resilience and urge them to make themselves visible and complement the efforts of other security agencies in crime fighting and above all respect human rights of law abiding citizens.
Alia, who stated that since May 29, 2023, relative peace has returned to Benue states said “We can never count on this achievements without your efforts. I’m so elated to hear some more, that today again you were at work as usual, but please don’t relent, an hundred percent peace must return to the state.”
The Governor who described Benue as the most hospitable in Nigeria, observed that Benue people are the most loving people in Nigeria, “we love to feed people and we want those who are looking for food elsewhere to come to Benue and get quality food, because we are the food basket of the nation.
“We want investors to come in and put their money on our land and the products they will get, we want our homes, families, siblings to go in to sleep and find it easy to sleep with there two eyes closed, we want our great farmers to go to farm very willingly and gladly to do what they know how to do best in the state for the product and food security of the nation”.
While he appreciated the Nigeria Hunters and Forest Security Services for public safety, Alia said they have come to stay as they remain very instrumental for peace to happen. He assured them of the state full support despite the challenges confronting promising to avail them all the needed assistance to make their work effective.
Also speaking, the Special Adviser to the Governor on Security and Internal Affairs, Chief Joseph Har, PSP, lauded their active presence in the state, saying on last Sunday, the hunters arrested six persons for various crimes which accounts for their usefulness in curbing crimes.
He recalled the sensitization campaign against cultism, violence among other crimes embarked upon in Makurdi metropolis saying by next week all the outfit including himself will relocate to Naka road and surrounding forests, the epicentre where most travellers are kidnapped, to comb every nook and crannies for criminal elements.
Earlier, the State Commander of Nigeria Hunters and Forest Security Services, Peter Ajonya, commended the Governor, men of 72 special forces battalion for the capacity training, SA on Security and Internal Affairs, traditional rulers and all others for the assistance and support given to them, assuring that the command is ready to deploy its men across the 23 LGAs to fish out criminal elements from their hideouts.
He said the command is ready to continue to work with sister agencies to clamp down criminals to ensure that government desire for peace and development is achieved.
He therefore called on the governor to help address some of their challenges to enable them carry out their functions effectively.
The four day capacity training exercise witnessed the presentation of awards to deserving royal fathers for their invaluable contribution.
At the end of the event, Governor Hyacinth Alia, was presented with an ward as patron NHFSS for his unflinching support while the Special Adviser on Security and Internal Affairs, Chief Joseph Har, pardoned a suspected criminal arrested for stealing student phones and other valuable items under the carrot approach admonishing him to go and repent from his sinful ways warning that he will not be forgiven if arrested a second time.