At least 76 security personnel lost their lives while confronting bandits across troubled communities in Benue State within the past year.
Governor Hyacinth Alia revealed this during the weekend while distributing ₦380 million to families of the fallen heroes at the Government House, Makurdi. According to him, each family received ₦5 million to ease their hardships.
Security Agencies Affected
The deceased operatives included members of the Nigerian Army, Police, Civil Defence, Operation Zenda, and the state-owned Community Protection Guards.
Governor Alia explained that the officers died while defending Benue citizens and their property between 2024 and 2025.
“These 76 security personnel paid the supreme price so that our state remains safe. They died defending our wives, children, and communities,” he said.
Governor’s Promises to Families
The governor promised to ensure that the children of the slain operatives continue their education. He also pledged support for widows through small business initiatives.
“For a start, each family will receive ₦5 million. Those who sustained injuries in hospitals will also receive immediate assistance,” Alia noted.
He further assured serving officers deployed to difficult terrains of additional welfare packages, including free plots of land.
Alia cautioned government officials and security agency heads against extorting bereaved families. He also urged Benue residents to respect security operatives instead of harassing them online.
Reactions From Security Chiefs and Families
The Director-General of Benue Homeland Security, Air Commodore Jacob Gbamwuam (retd.), described the gesture as timely, noting that the operatives died in active service within the state.
The Commissioner of Police, CP Ifeanyi Enemari, expressed gratitude on behalf of all security agencies. He assured the governor that officers would intensify efforts to chase away bandits and restore peace.
One of the beneficiaries, Jacintha Yakubu, whose husband, a police officer, was killed during the June 13, 2025 Yelwata attacks, thanked the governor for the support. Holding her one-month-old baby, she explained that the child was born in August, two months after her husband died in a gun battle with bandits.
Credit: Daily Trust
