July 31, (THEWILL) – Benue State Governor, Hyacinth Alia, has challenged participants of the Advanced Defence Intelligence College, Abuja, to provide actionable intelligence reports that will safeguard the State and Nation from potential threats of attacks.
The Governor stated this when participants of Course 14/2023 of the college, currently on a study tour of the State in partial fulfilment of their course, paid him a courtesy visit at the Government House, Makurdi.
Speaking on the theme of the tour: ”Preventing Intercommunal Conflict Through Actionable Intelligence To Enhance National Security,” Governor Alia urged the team to engage in robust and valuable interactions that will lead to the return of peace in communities across the State.
He expressed regrets at the pains caused by inter-communal conflicts, saying it has led to the loss of many lives in Benue State and also the displacement of many others from their ancestral homes.
While reiterating his administration’s resolve at returning the Internally Displaced Persons (IDPs) to their homes, the Governor called on them to work in conjunction with the security agencies on ground, with the aim of providing workable solutions to the root causes of intercommunal conflicts in the State and the Country in general.
Earlier in his address, the leader of the group and Director of Studies at the Defence Intelligence College, Abuja, Goke Osuntokum, said they were in Benue to fulfil the partial requirements for graduation at the college.
According to him, the choice of Benue State is important as it provides the participants with the avenue to discuss salient issues that will help in tackling cases of communal clashes within the State and Nigeria at large.
He said such efforts are concurrently being carried out in States such as Plateau and Taraba that also have a history of intercommunal conflicts.
He thanked the Governor and the people of the State for the hospitality accorded them on their arrival.
In his vote of thanks, Defence Intelligence Officer, Charles Acho, commended the Governor for creating time to receive the participants despite his tight schedule.
He wished the Alia-led administration well in its bid to better the well-being of the people of the State.
