As Benue prepares for the Easter celebration, the Inspector-General of Police, Olatunji Disu, has moved to strengthen security in the state with the deployment of 14 specialised police units and 250 tactical personnel.
The reinforcement, announced on Saturday, is part of efforts to boost ongoing operations and reassure residents at a time when many families are expected to travel, gather, and worship across the state.
According to the Benue State Police Command, the new deployment includes operatives drawn from 16 Police Mobile Force squadrons as well as officers from various special tactical teams. The goal, authorities say, is simple: to protect lives, secure communities, and prevent any breakdown of law and order during the festive period.
Police spokesperson DSP Edet Udeme explained that the newly deployed personnel have already been integrated into existing security operations across Benue. Their focus will be on vulnerable communities, remote areas, public spaces, and other security flashpoints where criminal elements may try to take advantage of the holiday period.
For many residents, the announcement comes as a timely intervention.
Benue has, in recent times, remained one of the states where security concerns often cast a shadow over daily life. So, with Easter drawing crowds to churches, markets, highways, and social events, the police say this is not a time to leave anything to chance.
The Commissioner of Police in Benue, Ifeanyi Emenari, also welcomed the reinforcement, describing it as a much-needed boost for the command at a critical time. He assured residents that the police are fully prepared to maintain peace before, during, and after Easter.
But beyond the deployment of officers and tactical teams, the police are also placing responsibility on the public.
Residents have been urged to remain alert, obey the law, and report any suspicious movement or activity to the nearest police station or security post. The message from the command is clear: security works better when the people and security agencies work together.
At a time when many Nigerians simply want to celebrate Easter in peace, spend time with family, and move around without fear, this latest move is meant to send one signal — that the police are on high alert and do not want Benue caught unprepared.
Whether that reassurance translates into calm on the ground will depend not just on the presence of armed personnel, but also on how effectively intelligence is shared and how quickly threats are responded to.
For now, though, the police say Benue is being watched closely — and that Easter will not be left unguarded.