•••As Alia’s Side Urges Benue People to Restrain Their Children from August 1 Protest
From Attah Ede, Makurdi
Benue State Government, on Tuesday, said a N93 billion bond has been deployed to digital security infrastructure and devices to curb insecurity in the State.
Governor Hyacinth Alia announced this during the digital security town hall meeting organized by the office of his Special Advisers on Security in conjunction with Ministry of Information, in Makurdi.
He said the project is expected to raise 190 billion for the state in the next 10 years.
The Governor who was represented by his deputy Barr. Samuel Ode, maintained that the State has established the Benue Digital Infrastructure Council as part of efforts to digitalized governance and manage security of the State.
“Government is already changing the security architect of the State which hitherto, was in a bad shape, hence the records indicates that the security situation in the State is better now.
“We are changing the security architect of the State. Insecurity is an emergency that we are working to combat. Government attaches seriousness to security of lives and property.
“Records already indicate that the security situation in the State is better than before. Government world over engage with communities which is a kinetic effort to curb criminality. Government require cooperation of citizens as well as dissemination of information to security agencies to fight insecurity.
“We have decided to embark on digitalized governance in managing our security. We are in partnership with best international organizations to ensure security of the State through ICT.
“The town Hall meeting should be a quarterly event to continually engage those who are supposed to be in the frontline in managing our security. There is need to train keke riders, okada riders, scrap managers also known as Iron Condemn in managing information.”
Also, there Special Adviser to the Governor on External Security and Liaison, Lt. Col. Alex Igbaya, said the high rate of crime in the State is due to illicit consumption of drugs by the youths especially in Ukum local government.
According to him, Benue State is enjoying peace due to measures put in place by the Governor as well as the untiring efforts of security agencies who are working hard to ensure residents sleep with two eyes closed.
“The Governor is working to make life conducive for the people so we should not be pushed to protest. Those asking you to protest, should ask their children to be part of it. Parents should sensitize your children not to participate in the planned protest”,Igbaya said
Special Adviser to the Governor on Internal Security Chief Joseph Har explained that the aim of the TownHall meeting is to enhance synergy between conventional, non conventional security agencies and civilians.
He stressed the need for them to be on the same page to stem the tide of insecurity in the State,maintaining that most times, security agencies unnecessarily harass and intimidate civilians while the latter undermine the former.
“We decided to convoke this TownHall so as to bring security agencies and civilians to be on one page. There is no solid synergy between security agencies and the people who should be on the same page against the common enemy which is insecurity.
“Law enforcement agencies should be highly professional. They must adopt the duck fowl feather approach. Law enforcement agencies usually show superiority to the civilians, harass and intimidate them.
“If you take security agencies off the street for two (2 )hours, there will be total chaos. Civilians undermine security agencies while the law enforcement agencies intimidate civilians. There should be partnership and appreciation between civilians and security agencies”, Har said.
