By Terdue Atondu, Makurdi
Benue State Governor, Rev. Fr. Dr. Hyacinth Alia, has assured residents of Apa/Agatu Federal Constituency that the biggest brigade under the newly approved Fifth Division of the Nigerian Army for the state will be located in the constituency to strengthen the fight against insecurity.
Alia gave the assurance on Friday during a town hall meeting with stakeholders and residents of Apa/Agatu Federal Constituency at Ugbokpo, headquarters of Apa Local Government Area.
The governor said President Bola Ahmed Tinubu’s approval of the Army division for Benue would significantly boost ongoing efforts to restore lasting peace and facilitate the permanent return of displaced residents to their ancestral homes.
According to him, the success of the security operation would not be measured by residents merely returning to their farms during the day, but by their ability to return home and sleep safely at night.
“President Tinubu has supported us to fight insecurity. People have gone back to their farms and I want you to know that it is not only going to farm and come back.
“Until you both go and sleep at your homes in your local government, I will know that we have completed our work. So, we continue to do this,” Alia said.
The governor disclosed that while the headquarters of the Fifth Division would be established in Makurdi, the largest brigade would be situated near the Apa Local Government Secretariat in Ugbokpo.
“Mr President has sent the Fifth Division of the Army to Benue State so that it will clear everything in security. The Fifth Division is going to be headquartered in Makurdi, while the biggest brigade of the Army will be situated right after Ugbokpo, the Apa Local Government Secretariat.
“In fact, right after the Secretariat is going to be that biggest brigade of the military, right here at home for you,” he said.
The announcement was greeted with applause from political leaders and stakeholders from Apa and Agatu, who commended the governor’s interventions in security and infrastructure.
The member representing Apa/Agatu Federal Constituency in the House of Representatives, Hon. Ojotu Ojema, congratulated Alia on securing the All Progressives Congress (APC) governorship ticket and commended his administration for its interventions in the constituency.
Ojema specifically praised the governor for the construction of the Oshigbudu-Agatu Road, which he said traversed three local government areas.
He also thanked Alia for sending a team to inspect a crude oil site in the area that had reportedly been abandoned for 52 years.
The lawmaker expressed optimism that renewed exploration of the site could eventually lead to Apa/Agatu becoming an oil-producing area.
Similarly, the Chairman of Agatu Local Government Council, Hon. James Ejeh, commended Alia for resolving the longstanding crisis between the Egba and Elogba communities, which he said had persisted for 15 years.
Ejeh said several communities in Apa had previously come under attacks by armed invaders, but noted that the governor’s financial, logistical and other support to security agencies had helped restore relative peace and enabled many displaced residents to return to their farms.
He, however, stressed the need for further measures to consolidate the security gains.
“Apa/Agatu is secured today,” Ejeh declared.
The member representing Apa State Constituency in the Benue State House of Assembly, Hon. Abu Umoru, said the people of Apa/Agatu would reciprocate the governor’s interventions by supporting his re-election in 2027.
Umoru also praised Alia for what he described as his inclusive leadership, noting that his elevation from the minority bloc to the position of Deputy Majority Leader in the Assembly was a historic development for the constituency.
He assured the governor that Apa/Agatu would “rise from top to bottom” in support of his second-term bid.
The APC State Chairman, Benjamin Omale, meanwhile, urged party members and leaders in Apa/Agatu to unite ahead of the 2027 elections.
Omale said electoral victory could not be achieved in an atmosphere of division, urging stakeholders to close ranks and work collectively for Alia’s re-election.
The Commissioner for Education, Dr. Margaret Adamu, also appealed to residents to support the governor for a second term, citing his administration’s achievements in education, healthcare and infrastructure.
She pledged that the constituency would deliver at least 90 per cent of its votes to Alia in the 2027 governorship election.
The proposed military deployment is expected to be particularly significant for Apa/Agatu, an area that has endured years of attacks, displacement, disruption of farming activities and destruction of lives and property.
