Governor Hyacinth Alia has declared Benue State’s full support for the establishment of state police, stressing that governors must have operational control of security structures to effectively safeguard their states.
Alia made the position known on Tuesday during the flag-off of a six-day training for 300 personnel of the Benue State Civil Protection Guards (BSCPGs). The exercise, organised by the The Kukah Centre in collaboration with the state government, is holding at the Firing Range in Ikpayongo, Gwer-East Local Government Area.
Represented by his deputy, Sam Ode, the governor described state policing as “an idea whose time has come,” noting that ongoing constitutional reforms would pave the way for its implementation.
He said the move aligns with efforts by President Bola Ahmed Tinubu to establish a legal framework for decentralised policing, describing it as a necessary devolution of powers in a federal system.
Alia also dismissed concerns that state police could be misused for political purposes, assuring that proper legal safeguards would prevent abuse.
Earlier, the Special Adviser on Security and Internal Affairs, Joseph Har, disclosed that the state had already trained 5,000 personnel, positioning Benue as a frontrunner in community-based security.
“We are a federating nation, and federating units should have self-determination on security,” Alia said, insisting that the role of governors as chief security officers must go beyond theory.
Project Manager at the Kukah Centre, Terseer Bamber, added that the training would strengthen operational capacity and ensure personnel act within constitutional limits.
“At the end of the exercise, we expect a more resilient force capable of supporting conventional security agencies,” he said.
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