Governor Hyacinth Alia

Governor of Benue State, Hyacinth Alia, has asked the Federal Government to establish state police and an intervention fund following the fresh wave of killings in the North-Central State.

The governor made the appeal yesterday when President Bola Tinubu visited Benue State over the recent killings in the area.

“While we continue to mourn our losses and rebuild from the ashes of pain, we humbly urge the Federal Government to consider establishing a special intervention fund for communities affected by these incessant attacks in Benue State,” Alia said during a stakeholder meeting in Makurdi, the state capital.

“Such a fund would go a long way in supporting the rehabilitation of the displaced persons, rebuilding of destroyed infrastructure, and restoring the livelihoods of our farmers and families whose lives have been upended.

“Our administration will keep working to ensure that our people are not only safe but can thrive on their own land.”

According to Alia, the establishment of state police, though with its challenges, is critical to stemming the tide of violence in Benue State.

“Let me also reiterate my firm support for the establishment of state police as a sustainable solution to the persistent insecurity in our state and perhaps elsewhere,” the Benue governor said.

“While I acknowledge the concerns surrounding its implementation, I believe the federal government can address these by setting clear state-specific guidelines and regulatory frameworks to prevent any potential misuse.”

The governor thanked Tinubu for the visit to the state and said it has “energised” the people in the wake of the killings, which took scores of lives and rendered thousands of others homeless.

“Again, your visit rekindles our hope and energizes all of us to continue treading the path for peace and loving each other,” the governor told the audience at the Benue Government House.