The Governor of Benue State Hyacinth Alia while he disbursed N380 million to families of the slain personnel at the Government House in Makurdi during the weekend revealed that at least 76 security operatives have been killed while battling bandits across troubled areas accrose the state within the past year.
The deceased security operatives include members of the military, police, civil defence, operation zenda and state-owned civil protection guard.
The Governor said that each family got N5million out of the N380 million disbursed to the fallen heroes, He further disclosed that the deceased were killed in battle with bandits in Benue villages while on duty safeguarding the lives and property of citizens.
“These 76 security personnel died making the supreme sacrifice between 2024 and 2025 so that Benue still remains a state in our nation. They died defending all of us and the territory of our state so our wives and children can live in peace.
“It’s a heavy burden because life is a supreme gift God gave us. I will ensure that their children remain in school and we will continue to support their widows in small businesses.
“For a start, each family will get N5million. The wounded in hospitals will have our support immediately,” he said.
The governor further pledged to support those security operatives serving in difficult terrains of the state as he stressed his willingness to donate free plots of land to them, he further counselled them not to despair just as he warned heads of security agencies and other state government officials not to demand any money out of the gift from the beneficiaries.
State Commissioner of Police, CP Ifeanyi Enemari, thanked the governor on behalf of all the security agencies in the state for the gesture, promising that they would double their efforts to chase bandits and other forms of criminality away from the state.
