Benue State Governor Hyacinth Alia has reaffirmed his administration’s commitment to supporting a joint security initiative between the Benue and Kogi State Police Commands aimed at curbing criminal activities along the shared border.
In a statement issued on Friday by the governor’s Chief Press Secretary, Tersoo Kula, Alia said the newly inaugurated Operation Handshake Patrol would enhance security surveillance and dismantle criminal hideouts operating within border communities.
According to the governor, the initiative is expected to stop the trend of suspects committing crimes in one state and fleeing across state boundaries to evade arrest.
“The operation will strengthen security checks, dismantle criminal enclaves, and prevent offenders from escaping justice by crossing into neighbouring states,” Alia said.
He explained that the initiative, conceived by the Inspector-General of Police, Olatunji Disu, would enable security personnel to conduct coordinated operations in forests and other suspected criminal hideouts across the Benue-Kogi border without jurisdictional restrictions.
Alia also pledged continued support for security agencies, assuring that his administration would provide the necessary assistance to protect lives and property across the state.
The governor’s remarks followed the official launch of the joint patrol during a security meeting held on Thursday in Ankpa Local Government Area of Kogi State, where the Commissioners of Police for Benue and Kogi inaugurated the operation.
Benue State Commissioner of Police, Cletus Nwadiogbu, said the patrol was established in line with the directive of the Inspector-General of Police to improve inter-state collaboration against crime.
“This initiative removes jurisdictional barriers that have often hindered the pursuit of criminals, allowing officers from either state to continue operations across state boundaries when necessary,” Nwadiogbu said.
He added that both police commands had created channels through which residents could report security concerns, assuring the public of the police’s commitment to restoring lasting peace in affected communities.
His Kogi counterpart, Naziru Kankarofi, described the patrol as a demonstration of the shared resolve of both commands to strengthen border security and safeguard law-abiding residents.
“We appeal to the governments of Benue and Kogi to provide the logistics required to sustain effective patrol operations,” Kankarofi said. “Officers participating in the operation must remain professional and work closely with host communities.”
He expressed confidence that residents would soon witness positive outcomes from the collaboration and commended both state governments for supporting efforts to improve security.
Also speaking, 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 urged residents to cooperate with security agencies by providing timely and credible information that would aid efforts to combat criminal activities in the area.
