Benue state governor, Hyacinth Alia, has called for the establishing of a naval base in the state to boost security.
He said the establishment of a naval base would foster closer collaboration between the Nigerian Navy and other security agencies operating in Benue.
Alia requested for “a Nigerian Navy Type A Operation Base in Makurdi ‘ during his visit to the Chief of Naval Staff, Vice Admiral Emmanuel Ogalla, in Abuja.
The governor lamented thr security challenges confronting the state, saying that many communities are under siege, people are living in fear and threatened by criminal elements, particularly armed herders and bandits.
He said these criminals exploited the absence of security along Benue waterways to infiltrate and perpetrate heinous crimes against defenseless innocent residents.
Alia said:”The situation demands urgent action, and it is in this spirit of urgency that I am here to appeal to the Nigerian Navy to consider establishing a Type “A” Operational Base in Makurdi, Benue State, along the River Benue.
“Such a strategic move is not just a necessity, but a moral imperative to safeguard the lives and properties of our citizens and to restore peace and security to our communities.”
Alia said in a statement by his Principal Special Assistant on Print Media, Donald Kumun, that River Benue is one of the two major inland waterways in Nigeria running from the Nigerian-Cameroon Border to its confluence with River Niger at Lokoja.
He said the river, though an inland waterway, is critical to Nigeria’s drive towards maximizing her Blue Economy potentials and enhancing national development.
Alia said an enhanced security along River Benue and the adjoining coastal communities and waterways is critical to achieving the developmental aspiration.
The governor lamented that the security situation along the river and its adjoining communities has largely remained volatile due to the absence of operational Naval presence along the River.
He said: “Bandits have been exploiting the absence of security along the waterways to infiltrate and kill defenseless innocent civilians in Benue State without any resistance.
“For instance, In April last year, no fewer than 400 innocent civilians were reportedly killed by bandits across Benue State in the space of three weeks.
“Most of these attacks occurred because the bandits exploited the absence of naval presence along the waterways to attack adjoining coastal communities in Logo, Guma, Katsina-Ala and Agatu LGAs of Benue State.”
Alia added: “Benue State, with its extensive network of waterways, has become a fertile ground for criminal activities. These criminals, emboldened by the lack of security presence along our rivers, roam freely, spreading terror and leaving a trail of destruction in their wake. It is time for us to take a stand and say enough is enough.
“By establishing a Naval base in Makurdi, the Nigerian Navy would not only assert its commitment to protecting the lives of Nigerians, but also send a clear message to these criminal elements that their reign of terror will no longer be tolerated.
“The presence of a Naval base would serve as a formidable deterrent, disrupting the activities of criminals and restoring a sense of security to our communities.”
Alia said the establishment of a Naval base in Makurdi would not only bolster the security architecture of Benue State, but also enhance the Navy’s capacity for swift response to security breaches.
He said with a dedicated operational base in the heart of the state, the Nigerian Navy would be better positioned to deploy resources, conduct patrols and apprehend perpetrators, thereby ensuring that justice is served and our communities are protected.
He said: “We can leverage our collective expertise and resources to effectively combat criminal networks, dismantle their operations and bring them to justice.
“Makurdi, the Benue State Capital is currently home to the Nigerian Navy Provost and Regulating School (NNPRS), with a Sickbay and Barracks established to support the School.
“However, the NNPRS is not an Operations Base but a training institution. Hence, it is not equipped with the requisite manpower, gunboats, operational vehicles and most importantly the mandate to conduct operations to support the Benue State Government in addressing the security challenges in the State. It is therefore necessary for the Benue State Government to liaise with Naval Headquarters for the establishment of a Type ‘A’ Operations Base in Makurdi.
“As a demonstration of our total commitment to the partnership between the Benue State Government and the Nigerian Navy, we have processed papers for the allocation of land and are already making compensations for the permanent site of the Nigerian Navy Provost and Regulating School (NNPRS) in Makurdi.”
