— As reported by Governor Alia Media Centre
Makurdi witnessed history on Friday, September 5, 2025, as Governor Hyacinth Alia rewrote the narrative of government’s treatment of fallen security personnel. What started as a solemn roll call of grief ended in a thunderous affirmation that the blood of Benue’s heroes will not be forgotten.
According to records released by Governor Alia Media Centre, no fewer than 76 security operatives—drawn from the police, army, Civil Defence, Benue State Civil Protection Guards, and the elite Operation Zenda—were cut down in the line of duty between 2024 and 2025. Their deaths had left behind widows, fatherless children, and families drowning in despair.
But Alia’s government refused to let that despair fester. In a move described by security chiefs as “unprecedented in Benue’s history,” each bereaved family was handed ₦5 million in direct financial support, totalling ₦380 million.
Yet the intervention went far beyond cash. Governor Alia directed that:
Scholarships be awarded to every child left behind by the slain operatives.
Business start-up support be provided for widows and dependents.
Families of the deceased be placed on a state protocol list for continuous government attention.
Periodic welfare visits and empowerment programs be institutionalized.
This is not just charity. It is state policy.
A Governor Who Refuses To Forget
Governor Alia’s tone throughout the event was one of rebuke to a society quick to condemn security forces but slow to appreciate their sacrifices.
> “The police, the army, and other security agencies are not our enemies,” he declared. “They deny themselves comfort so we can live in peace. We must appreciate them, not condemn them.”
Security chiefs at the event couldn’t hide their astonishment. Commissioner of Police Ifeanyi Emenari admitted that the gesture would restore morale among officers, while retired Commodore Jacob Gbwamwuan described it as “a historic turning point for civil-military relations in Benue.”
A Different Kind Of Leadership
Unlike many state governments that abandon widows to beg in silence, Alia has chosen a path of deliberate intervention. He has not only written cheques but designed a system to keep families afloat—education, business empowerment, welfare support.
As seen by Governor Alia Media Centre, this initiative is not about politics. It is about humanity, about standing in the gap for those who stood in the line of fire.
A Symbol Beyond Benue
Observers note that the move is likely to spark national conversations about how governments across Nigeria treat families of those who die defending the country. In a climate where fallen soldiers and policemen are often buried with promises that evaporate after the cameras leave, Benue has now raised the standard.
That day in Makurdi, it was not just about money. It was about dignity. It was about reminding the nation that the men and women who die in uniform leave behind more than uniforms—they leave behind children who must eat, widows who must survive, and legacies that must be preserved.
Governor Hyacinth Alia has chosen to carry that burden on behalf of Benue. And in doing so, he has proven that leadership can be more than politics; it can be compassion turned into concrete action.
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