Benue adopts community policing to tackle insecurity

In a decisive shift from force-driven security responses, the Benue State government has unveiled a statewide community policing framework aimed at rebuilding trust between citizens and security agencies to curb persistent violence across the state. Launching the People-Centred Public Safety (PCPS) Project at Government House in Makurdi on Tuesday, Governor Hyacinth Alia noted that the […]

In a decisive shift from force-driven security responses, the Benue State government has unveiled a statewide community policing framework aimed at rebuilding trust between citizens and security agencies to curb persistent violence across the state.

Launching the People-Centred Public Safety (PCPS) Project at Government House in Makurdi on Tuesday, Governor Hyacinth Alia noted that the initiative marks a new phase in Benue’s security architecture, placing citizens at the heart of safety planning and intelligence gathering.

Represented by his deputy, Sam Ode, the governor acknowledged that repeated cycles of violence have strained public confidence and destabilized communities. He stressed that the new framework—designed to foster cooperation, early warning systems, and shared accountability—is vital to stabilizing the state.

He noted that lessons from Guma, Katsina-Ala, and Agatu Local Government Areas have demonstrated that community-driven approaches can effectively mitigate violence when residents actively collaborate with law enforcement agencies.

President of Lawyers Alert, Dr. Rommy Mom, described the programme as a significant departure from over-reliance on kinetic security operations.