BENUE GOV BACKS JOINT POLICE TASKFORCE WITH KOGI TO TACKLE CRIME

Benue State Governor, Rev. Fr. Hyacinth Alia, has thrown his support behind the establishment of a joint police task force with neighbouring Kogi State to tackle cross-border crimes and improve security along their shared boundaries.

The governor made the declaration on Friday during a security meeting with top police officers and his Kogi State counterpart in Makurdi. He emphasised the need for collaborative efforts to address banditry, kidnapping, and other criminal activities that have plagued the border communities.

“Security is a collective responsibility. We must work together with Kogi State to establish a joint task force that will patrol our borders and respond swiftly to any security threat,” Alia stated.

The Benue State Governor commended the Nigeria Police Force for its efforts in maintaining law and order and pledged the state’s full support for the joint operation. He also called for intelligence sharing and community engagement to ensure the success of the initiative.

Kogi State Governor, Mr. Usman Ododo, who led a delegation to the meeting, expressed readiness to partner with Benue State to tackle insecurity. He noted that the joint task force will help address the challenges of criminals who exploit the porous borders to carry out their activities.

The Inspector General of Police, who was represented at the meeting, assured both governors of the force’s commitment to the success of the joint operation. He said adequate personnel and logistics will be provided to make the task force effective.

Residents of border communities have welcomed the initiative, expressing hope that it will bring lasting peace and reduce criminal activities in the area. The joint task force is expected to commence operations in the coming weeks after detailed planning and coordination between the two states.

The collaboration between Benue and Kogi States is seen as a model for other states sharing boundaries to adopt in addressing security challenges and promoting inter-state cooperation.