Benue State Governor, Rev. Fr. Hyacinth Alia, has provided financial and long-term support to the families of 76 security operatives who lost their lives while combating insecurity across the state between 2024 and 2025.
Each bereaved family received a financial package of N5 million, amounting to N380 million in total, alongside commitments for scholarships for the children of the deceased and business empowerment initiatives for their widows.
Presenting symbolic cheques at a solemn ceremony in Makurdi, Governor Alia described the gesture as an expression of gratitude to the fallen heroes for their ultimate sacrifice.
“Their memories will continue to be a blessing to us. We will not leave anyone behind. Your children will continue their education through scholarships, and your families will remain on the state’s protocol list,” Alia said.
The governor recalled the burden of grief carried by the families, citing the story of a nursing mother whose infant would never know its father, stressing that government intervention would go beyond financial aid to include sustainable opportunities for widows and periodic visits to bereaved households.
Governor Alia also commended the Inspector General of Police, the Chief of Defence Staff, the Chief of Naval Staff, the Civil Defence Command, and other security agencies for their commitment to restoring peace in Benue. He further applauded President Bola Tinubu for his unwavering support to security operations in the state.
He urged citizens to see security operatives not as adversaries but as protectors who sacrifice their comfort, and in some cases, their lives, for the safety of others.
Earlier, the Director General of Homeland Security, Col. Jacob Gbawuan (rtd.), disclosed that the 76 personnel cut across the police, military, Civil Defence, and the state-owned Community Volunteer Guards, describing them as heroes who must never be forgotten.
The State Commissioner of Police, Ifeanyi Emenari, hailed the governor’s intervention as “spectacular” and “unprecedented,” noting that the gesture would not only bring succour to the grieving families but also boost the morale of serving officers.
