In response to persistent insecurity across troubled parts of Benue State, the Inspector General of Police (IGP), Kayode Adeolu Egbetokun, PhD, NPM, has approved the creation of two new Area Commands and the upgrade of five police stations to Divisional status.
The restructuring, announced by the Benue State Police Command, is aimed at closing security gaps and improving police presence in hard hit and underserved local government areas.
According to the Command, a recent appraisal of ongoing security challenges particularly in areas plagued by farmer-herder clashes and other violent crimes revealed a pressing need to bring law enforcement closer to affected communities.
The two newly created Area Commands are located in Daudu and Naka, while the five upgraded police stations are now designated as full Divisions in Ayilamo, Yelwata, Jato-Aka, Okpokolo, and Agan.
Under the new structure: Daudu Area Command will oversee Guma, Daudu, Yelwata, and Agan Divisions while Naka Area Command will cover Naka, Apa, Agatu, and Okpokolo Divisions.
The Benue State Commissioner of Police, CP Emenari Ifeanyi, PhD, praised the IGP for his proactive response to the evolving security situation in the state. He noted that the changes would improve rapid response times, enhance conflict resolution efforts—particularly between farmers and herders—and extend policing to areas with difficult terrain and poor access.
“This adjustment will assist the command in policing troubled areas,” CP Ifeanyi stated, adding that the move reflects the Force’s commitment to adapting its operations to meet on-the-ground realities.
The announcement is being seen as a strategic step toward stabilizing rural communities in Benue, many of which have suffered repeated waves of violence, displacement, and destruction in recent years.
