The Tor Tiv, Prof. James Ayatse, President of the Benue State Traditional Council, has cautioned politicians against exploiting the newly launched Benue State Civil Protection Guards (BSCPG) for political purposes.
The BSCPG recently recruited 5,000 personnel and was inaugurated at the Ibrahim Badamosi Babangida (IBB) Square in Makurdi.
The event also featured the commissioning of 100 operational Hilux vehicles and 600 motorcycles to support state security agencies and promote peaceful coexistence in the state.
Speaking at the ceremony, the Tor Tiv emphasized that the security outfit was established to safeguard the state and restore normalcy, not to serve partisan interests.
He urged politicians to refrain from using the personnel for any political agenda that could undermine their role in tackling insecurity and fostering harmonious relationships among the diverse ethnic groups in the state.
The traditional leader commended Governor Hyacinth Alia for his proactive approach to addressing security challenges in the state, noting that Benue is now ahead of many others in ensuring public safety.
Governor Alia reaffirmed his commitment to improving security, highlighting his promise to recruit 10,000 personnel for the BSCPG, with plans to complete the recruitment process soon.
He stated that the newly established security apparatus would help combat criminal activities and create a peaceful environment conducive to economic growth.
The National Chairman of the APC, Abdullahi Ganduje, advised the state to leverage the federal government’s Livestock Development Ministry to address the persistent issue of herders-farmers clashes.
Benue: Don’t use state security guards for political gains – Tor Tiv warns politicians