Alia strengthens Benue security with three military units

File: Benue State Governor, Hyacinth Alia

Benue State Governor, Hyacinth Alia, has announced plans to establish three military operational units in the Sankera axis of the state as part of measures to strengthen security and improve response to threats in the area.

The governor also announced the donation of 30 motorcycles to security agencies in Katsina-Ala, Ukum and Logo local government areas to support patrols and rapid response.

Alia made the announcements on Monday at Katsina-Ala during a town hall meeting with stakeholders from the Sankera political bloc.

The governor said the three military units would be stationed at Agu in Katsina-Ala, Anyiin in Logo and Azendeshi in Ukum, according to a statement made available to QZA PUNCH by his Chief Press Secretary, Tersoo Kula.

The statement said the governor was on a statewide tour to thank members of the All Progressives Congress for supporting his emergence as the party’s candidate for the 2027 governorship election.

It added that the tour was also being used to hold town hall meetings with stakeholders across the state’s 11 federal constituencies.

Beyond security, Alia announced plans for the construction of a new dam with a projected capacity of 460 megawatts.

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According to the statement, the governor said the proposed project would provide water and support electricity generation for residents of the state.

Alia also used the meeting to address concerns over ranching and assured residents that his administration would not establish any ranch in Benue without the consent of the people.

“Nobody will force us to cede even an inch of our land to the pastoralist for any purpose.

“If that must happen, I can assure you, it will not be this time that I am still the governor of Benue State,” he said.

The governor’s position comes against the backdrop of longstanding tensions over land use, herder-farmer relations and insecurity in parts of Benue.

The Sankera axis, comprising Katsina-Ala, Ukum and Logo, has experienced recurring security challenges, making the planned deployment of additional military operational capacity particularly significant for residents and communities in the area.

The town hall meetings are expected to continue across the remaining federal constituencies in the state in the coming days.