76 Security Personnel Killed In Benue Over Past Year –Govt Official

The Director-General of the Benue State Bureau of Homeland Security, Air Commodore Jacob Gbamwuan (retd), has revealed that 76 security personnel lost their lives in the line of duty in the state over the past year.

“76 security personnel lost their lives in the state between 2024 and 2025. They sacrificed their lives as heroes to ensure peace and sanity and cannot be forgotten," he said.

Gbamwuan, who disclosed this when Governor Hyacinth Alia received families of the deceased security personnel in Makurdi, assured that their sacrifices would not be in vain.

He emphasized that they sacrificed their lives as heroes to ensure peace and sanity, and cannot be forgotten.

Commending the governor for his support, he assured the people of Benue that “it is not over until our desire for the state is achieved”.

“We must double our efforts and ensure that criminals and hoodlums do not operate in the state,” he said.

According to Vanguard, the governor announced a cash support of ₦5 million for each family of the deceased personnel, including members of the Police, Nigeria Security and Civil Defence Corps (NSCDC), the military, the Benue State Civil Protection Guards, and the Operation Zenda joint security team.

Acknowledging the sacrifices made by the fallen personnel in maintaining peace in the state, the governor stated that they paid the supreme price.

He also expressed gratitude to President Bola Tinubu, the Chief of Defence Staff, and the Service Chiefs for their concerted efforts in restoring peace to Benue State.

“We appreciate the sacrifice made by these fallen heroes to defend the territory of the state and ensure that the citizenry lives in peace," the governor was quoted as saying.

“It is a heavy burden but we will continue this journey with you. Their memories will continue to be a blessing to us and our state. I sat and saw a mother breastfeeding her baby; that means the child did not know its father because he paid the supreme price.

“We will continue to support their widows, and you will be visited from time to time. We will ensure your children continue their education through scholarships. We will not leave anyone behind.

“You will be on the state protocol list. I assure you that the lives your loved ones sacrificed would not be in vain because peace must return to the state.

“I also appreciate the First Lady and the International Organisation for Migration, IOM, for their humongous support, and I assure the Internally Displaced Persons, IDPs, that the committee set up is working to ensure fairness in the distribution of money given to the IDPs. We will not rest on our oars until they all return to their ancestral homes.”

He added, “Each of the families will receive a cash donation of the sum of N5 million. For those injured too, we will support them. Let us support these families. Be kind to them, be charitable to them. Share with them and visit them; work with them. Give human kindness and face to them.”

“Our government will continue to synergise with security agencies in the state to ensure peace. Security agencies are not enemies of the state. They sacrifice a lot, especially their comfort, to give us comfort,” he added.