Benue State Governor Hyacinth Alia has pledged support for the Operation Handshake Patrol, a joint security initiative by the Benue and Kogi State Police Commands aimed at improving security in border communities.
Alia’s Chief Press Secretary, Tersoo Kula, disclosed this in a statement issued to journalists on Friday in Makurdi.
According to the governor, the joint operation will strengthen security checks and dismantle criminal enclaves operating along the border areas of both states.
He expressed confidence that the initiative would end the practice of criminals committing offences in one state and fleeing to neighbouring states to evade arrest.
Alia said the task force, conceived by the Inspector-General of Police, Olatunji Disu, would enable security personnel to comb forests and other suspected criminal hideouts across the Benue-Kogi border without jurisdictional restrictions.
The governor pledged continued support for security agencies, assuring that his administration would provide the necessary assistance to protect lives and property across the state.
His remarks followed a joint security meeting held on Thursday in Ankpa Local Government Area of Kogi State, where the commissioners of police for Benue and Kogi formally launched Operation Handshake Patrol.
The Benue State Commissioner of Police, Cletus Nwadiogbu, and his Kogi counterpart, Naziru Kankarofi, said the operation was established in line with the directive of the Inspector-General of Police.
Nwadiogbu said the initiative removes jurisdictional barriers that often hinder the pursuit of criminals, allowing police officers from either state to pursue and arrest suspects who cross state boundaries after committing crimes.
He added that both commands had established reporting channels for residents to provide security information, assuring them of the police’s commitment to restoring lasting peace in the affected communities.
Kankarofi described the operation as a demonstration of the shared commitment of both commands to strengthen border security and protect law-abiding residents.
He appealed to the governors of Benue and Kogi states to provide adequate logistics to sustain effective patrols and urged officers participating in the operation to remain professional and work closely with host communities.
The police commissioner expressed confidence that residents would soon begin to see the benefits of the collaboration and commended both governors for supporting efforts to improve security.
The Commander of the 21 Brigade, Nigerian Army, Ankpa, Lt. Col. J.S. Monde, also assured that the military would continue supporting the police and other security agencies in securing the border communities.