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From Scholastica Hir, Makurdi
If tears of joy are shed from overwhelming feeling of happiness, elation and gratitude, wives and family members of fallen security personnel in Benue State had a fair share of it recently.
On September 6, 2025, Benue State Governor, Rev. Fr. Hyacinth Alia, invited to Government House, Makurdi, wives and families of 76 deceased security personnel who were killed by herdsmen and bandits in the last one year while offering services to the state.
It was an emotion-laden event as the families members, especially wives of the deceased security personnel who were clad in black mourning clothes, came to the arena in pensive mood.
Unaware of the surprise that awaited them, they were elated when Alia announced a gift of N5 million for each family, amounting to N380 million.
Some of the women could not hold back tears as they spoke to this correspondent. Alia’s gesture brought relief and joy to the families, particularly the widows, who had been struggling since losing their breadwinners.
“It was was big shock, I never expected such compassion to be extended to us,” Mrs Rita Yashira, a widow of one of the deceased soldiers, said.
Mrs Yashira, who lamented her condition since the passing of her husband, said life had been tough with her and appreciated her appreciation to the governor for standing in the gap for her.
She said: “My husband passed away August 11, 2024 and since then life has been very tough for me. Today I’m very happy. This will pay my children school fees, start a business for me. I thank Governor Hyacinth Alia for what he has given us. I don’t have anything to give him but prayers.
“You know, God answers the prayers of widows. So, I pray that God will bless and uphold him and he will never be disappointed.”
Another widow, Deborah Amedu, is wife to one of the soldiers killed in Daudu, Guma local government area on June 13, 2025, the day of the Yelwata massacre which took the lives of over 200 people.
She said: “My husband died in Daudu on June 13, 2025, during the killings in Yelwata. He was a member of the Operation Whirl Stroke.
“Since that time, life has been difficult, things has not been well. I cry everyday because I didn’t expect that thing to happen to me. I didn’t expect that I will be a widow now.”
The mother of two thanked Alia for remembering them and prayed God to give him long life and keep him in good health to lead Benue State well.
Mrs Alice Ekpo, another widow, showered praises on the governor for ameliorating their sufferings and putting smiles on their faces. Ekpo, a mother of four, said she has two children in the university and two others in secondary school. She said: “Since I lost my husband, it has not been easy. I have been thinking of how to pay fees alone all these while. I also prayed to God to send us a Messiah. God has just answered my prayers and I am grateful.”
Our correspondent reports that herdsmen attacks have claimed the lives of thousands of citizens in Benue State. No one is spared as the dead include security personnel sent to secure the land.
Records show that on July 8, 2025, gunmen suspected to be armed herdsmen killed four members of a joint security patrol team at Udei community, near Yelewata in Guma local government area of the state.
The patrol team, known as the Buffalo Squad of Operation Zenda, a joint security team comprised officers of the Mobile Police Force, the Nigeria Security and Civil Defence Corps (NSCDC), Counter-Terrorism Unit (CTU) of the police and the Benue State Civil Protection Guards.
It was gathered that the officers were on routine patrol along the Daudu-Yelewata road when they were ambushed and killed.
Similarly, in a three-day sustained attacks that began on April 12, 2025, armed herdsmen, again, killed six security operatives of the
Benue State Community Volunteer Guards and Livestock Guards, alongside 22 other civilians in an attack on three communities of Mbabwande, Gyaluwa and Naka in Gwer West LGA of the state.
The six personnel were reportedly ambushed and killed on April 12 2025, when they accompanied a bereaved family to Mbabwande to bury their loved one.
Also on August 4, gunmen suspected to be herdsmen militia killed a police officer and nine others in another attack on Agatu communities.
At the last count, the state government and military sources said not fewer that 76 security personnel have been killed in the state in the last one year alone.
Moved by compassion and the zeal to lift the families from perpetual lack and agony, Gov. Alia met with families of the deceased personnel in Government House Makurdi. He give them monetary gifts and also promised the children scholarships to enable them continue their education.
The deceased security personnel worked with the Police, Civil Defense, the military and members of Civil Protection Guards (CPG) among others.
Alia acknowledged the selfless sacrifice of the deceased security personnel, who paid the supreme prize to ensure peace in the state. He appreciated the IGP for his desire to ensure that peace returned to the state as well as the Chief of Defense Staff, Chief of Naval Staff and commander, Civil Defense for their efforts.
He also lauded the enthusiasm of President Bola Tinubu to ensure that peace is restored to the state. He said: “We appreciate the sacrifice made by these fallen heroes to defend the territory of the state and ensure that the citizenry live in peace.
“It is a heavy burden but we will continue this journey with you. Their memories will continue to be a blessing to us and our state. I sat and saw a mother breast feeding her baby that means the child wasn’t up to the age of knowing his or her father because he paid the supreme prize while he chose to defend us and Nigeria, to keep it all together in love and peace and ensure that there is a place called Benue.
“For the children, we are going to ensure they’re in school. We will continue to support the widows. We will put you on the state protocol list and you will be visited from time to time. We will ensure your children continue their education through scholarship. We will give skills acquisition to their spouses and give them start-ups for small businesses.
“We will not leave anyone behind. I assure you that the lives your loved ones sacrificed would not be in vain because peace must return to the state.
“For each of the families, we begin with the sum of N5 million. For those injured too, we will support them. Let us support these families. Be kind to them, be charitable to them. Share with them and visit them, work with them. Give human kindness and face to them.”
Alia said he has requested for the particulars of all the officers in the state, saying: “once you are sent to the state, we are working with you until the last day should any eventuality happen to you while working in the state.”
The commissioner of police in the state, Ifeanyi Emenari, acknowledged the gesture as spectacular and unprecedented, say that it will bring succor to the families and motivation to all security agencies in the state.
He said: “All the security commanders in Benue State are very very happy today. We show our appreciation to the President Bola Ahmed Tinubu and we also appreciate all the good people of Benue State. We thank the IGP and other service chiefs who have given us the support and enablement to work in Benue State.
“We appreciate Gov. Alia for his magnanimity, support, thoughtfulness and kind gesture that has brought succour and smiles to many families of gallant officers that have paid the supreme prize. We thank him, we appreciate him. With this support, all the security agents in the state have no reason not to give more than double of what we have given before. By the grace of God, the desired security of this state must be achieved.”
