FIC REPORT (BENUE STATE) – Governor Hyacinth Alia of Benue State has called for stronger collaboration among states in the North Central geopolitical zone to effectively address the region’s growing security challenges.
Governor Alia made the call on Monday, August 31, 2026, at the 2026 North Central Zonal Security Summit held at the New Banquet Hall, Benue State Government House, Makurdi.
The summit, organised by the Federal Ministry of Defence in collaboration with the Office of the Senior Special Assistant to the President on Community Engagement (North Central), has as its theme: “Collaborative Approaches to Strengthening Security and Regional Stability.”
The Governor stressed that the ethnic and cultural diversity of Benue and other North Central states makes regional cooperation imperative in confronting security threats that transcend state boundaries.
During the summit the convener the Honorable Minister of Defense General CHRISTOPHER Musa(Rtd) OFR
Said that challenges such as banditry, kidnapping, farmer-herder conflicts, communal violence, organised crime and other forms of insecurity cannot be effectively tackled by individual states acting alone.
He therefore urged the states in the region to strengthen intelligence sharing, inter-state security cooperation and community engagement, while working closely with security agencies and traditional institutions to prevent conflicts and respond promptly to emerging threats.
He emphasised the need for stakeholders to adopt coordinated and sustainable approaches that would protect lives and property, restore confidence among citizens and create an enabling environment for agricultural production and economic development.
The General Musa further called for greater involvement of traditional rulers, religious leaders, women, youths and community-based organisations in peacebuilding and conflict prevention efforts.
The summit brought together Governors and representatives of North Central states, Federal Government officials, security and intelligence chiefs, traditional and religious leaders, civil society organisations, development partners, academia, women and youth groups, among other stakeholders.
The summit focused on critical security concerns in the region, including banditry, farmer-herder conflicts, kidnapping, violent extremism spillover, organised crime and community resilience.
The organisers said the summit was designed to provide a platform for strategic dialogue, knowledge sharing and consensus-building towards developing practical solutions to the region’s interconnected security challenges.
A major expected outcome of the summit is the launch of the North Central Early Warning and Early Response Network (NCEWERN), aimed at facilitating information sharing, conflict prevention and coordinated responses to security threats across the region.
The summit is also expected to produce a communiqué and action matrix to guide stakeholders in implementing agreed recommendations for improved security, peace and sustainable development across the North Central geopolitical zone.
VERONICA AZEMBA
For Head of Center FIC .
