Gov. Hyacinth Alia of Benue State has pledged support to the ‘Operation Handshake Patrol’ of the Police Commands of Benue/Kogi joint security operations in improving security along the border communities of both states.
Gov. Alia’s spokesperson, Tersoo Kula stated this on Friday in Makurdi.
Alia said the joint task force will strengthen security checks and dismantle criminal enclaves operating around the border areas, adding that the operation would stop criminals from operating in a state and escaping to neighbouring states, to evade arrest.
He said the taskforce conceived by the Inspector-General of Police, Olatunji Disu, will comb forests and other suspected criminal hideouts in the Benue and Kogi border, without jurisdictional limitations.
Alia pledged sustained support for security agencies, saying his administration would continue to provide the necessary assistance to ensure the safety of lives and property in Benue.
The governor’s remarks followed a joint security meeting held on Thursday at Ankpa local government in Kogi, where the commissioners of police for both states formally launched the Operation Handshake Patrol.
The Commissioner of Police in Benue, Cletus Nwadiogbu and his Kogi counterpart, Naziru Kankarofi, said the taskforce was established in line with the directive of the IG, adding that the operation removed jurisdictional barriers that often hindered the pursuit of criminals, enabling police personnel from either state to pursue and arrest suspects who crossed state boundaries after committing crimes.
He said the two commands have also created channels through which residents can report security concerns, adding that the initiative was a demonstration of the shared commitment of both commands to strengthen border security and protect law-abiding residents.
He appealed to the governors of both states to provide adequate logistics to sustain effective patrols and urged officers participating in the operation to maintain professionalism and work closely with host communities.
The Commander of the 21 Brigade, Nigerian Army, Ankpa, Lt.-Col. J.S. Monde assured that the military would continue to support the police and other security agencies in securing the border communities.
Monde also urged residents to provide timely and credible information to security agencies to enhance efforts at tackling criminal activities.
