Benue State Governor Hyacinth Alia has assured residents that insecurity in the state is being brought under control, with visible progress in restoring peace and stability.
Speaking after a meeting with Vice President Kashim Shettima, Governor Alia highlighted the government’s efforts to address the dual challenges of insecurity and food production.
“Insecurity is gradually dying out in Benue,” the governor stated. “It’s a given that insecurities never go away 100%, but we’ve seen significant progress. You hardly hear of major disturbances or large-scale incidents anymore, and relative peace is returning.”
Governor Alia attributed the improvement to targeted investments in security infrastructure.
“Just a few weeks ago, we launched support for all our security apparatus. We provided 100 Toyota trucks to security groupings across the state and enhanced support for mainstream security operations,” he said.
The governor also emphasized the role of community vigilance in supporting primary security efforts, noting that residents are now more engaged in ensuring safety in their localities.
The renewed peace has led to a significant revival of farming activities in the state, with many residents returning to their farms after years of insecurity. “With increased security, the level of farming has also gone up. This season, we had a bumper harvest, something we haven’t experienced in many years,” Governor Alia noted.
He praised the federal government, particularly President Bola Tinubu, for its unwavering support in addressing security challenges and promoting agricultural development.
While acknowledging that some minor skirmishes may still occur, Governor Alia expressed confidence in Benue’s trajectory toward sustained peace and economic recovery.
Benue, as an agrarian state, has intensified efforts to get our people back to the farms,” Governor Alia said. “During the campaigns, the Vice President, then a candidate, promised support with tractors and farm inputs.
He has been delivering on those promises, just like President Bola Tinubu, who is committed to helping us live up to our name as the food basket of the nation.”
Governor Alia praised the administration’s backing, stating that the support from the federal government has enabled Benue to combat food insecurity while assisting other states grappling with similar challenges.
“This year, we are going back to the farms 100%. Benue should not be talking about food insecurity; instead, we should be supporting other states facing these issues,” he added.
