April 04, (THEWILL) — In a coordinated push to guarantee a peaceful Easter celebration, security agencies have significantly reinforced operations across Benue State, with the Nigeria Police Force and the Nigeria Security and Civil Defence Corps (NSCDC) deploying over 4,000 personnel statewide.
The Inspector-General of Police, Olatunji Disu, approved the deployment of 14 specialised units and 250 tactical personnel to strengthen the Benue State Command. The development was disclosed by the Police Public Relations Officer, Edet Udeme, in a statement issued on Saturday in Makurdi.
Udeme explained that the 14 units were drawn from 16 Police Mobile Force squadrons, while the 250 officers were selected from elite tactical teams.
She said the strategic reinforcement was aimed at boosting ongoing security operations and ensuring the protection of lives and property during the festive period.
According to her, the deployed personnel have been seamlessly integrated with existing tactical units and other security agencies, with a clear mandate to dominate hinterlands, vulnerable communities, and key public spaces across the state.
She further disclosed that the Commissioner of Police, Ifeanyi Emenari, commended the IGP for the timely intervention, describing it as critical to sustaining peace and security in the state.
Emenari reassured residents of the Command’s readiness to maintain law and order before, during, and after the Easter celebrations.
He urged citizens to remain law-abiding, vigilant, and supportive of security efforts by providing timely and credible information to law enforcement agencies.
The police chief also encouraged the public to promptly report suspicious movements or activities to the nearest police formation.
In a complementary move, the NSCDC Benue Command announced the deployment of 1,780 personnel across all 23 local government areas of the state to further bolster security coverage.
The Command’s Public Relations Officer, Michael Ejelikwu, said the deployment was part of proactive measures designed to ensure a peaceful and hitch-free Easter celebration.
Ejelikwu noted that the State Commandant, Alice Bitrus, directed heads of departments, area commanders, divisional officers, and specialised tactical units to intensify operations, including round-the-clock surveillance of critical and national infrastructure.
He added that personnel in the operations unit had been tasked with coordinating and reporting deployment schedules for effective monitoring and performance evaluation.
The Commandant charged officers to be proactive, professional, and fully committed to their duties, warning that any form of misconduct would not be tolerated.
She also called on residents to cooperate with security agencies and remain vigilant by reporting suspicious activities.
Both agencies issued strong warnings to criminal elements to stay away from Benue, reiterating their collective resolve to ensure public safety. They also extended goodwill messages to Christians, wishing them a joyous, peaceful, and secure Easter celebration.
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