Benue governor announces new military bases, 30 motorcycles for security agencies and a proposed 460MW dam during a stakeholder meeting in Katsina-Ala
Benue State Governor Hyacinth Alia announced plans on Monday, August 24, 2026, to establish three military operational units across the Sankera axis of Benue State, while donating 30 motorcycles to security agencies serving Katsina-Ala, Ukum and Logo local government areas.
Also read: Alia orders aggressive manhunt after deadly Benue attack
Alia made the announcement in Katsina-Ala during a town hall meeting with stakeholders from the Sankera political bloc, as his administration seeks to reinforce security and improve the ability of security personnel to respond quickly to threats in the area.
The Alia Sankera military units are expected to be located at Agu in Katsina-Ala, Anyiin in Logo and Azendeshi in Ukum, according to a statement issued by the governor’s Chief Press Secretary, Tersoo Kula. (The Sun Nigeria)
The proposed deployment comes against a difficult security backdrop in the three local government areas.
Recent military operations in Benue have included counter-insurgency and anti-kidnapping activities in Ukum and Logo, with troops reporting the neutralisation of a suspected terrorist in Kyado, Ukum, on August 19 and the arrest of two suspected kidnappers in Logo the same day. (Teetv News)
For residents of Sankera, the planned military presence could therefore provide a more permanent security footprint in an area where communities have faced recurring threats from armed groups and criminal networks.
The governor also announced the donation of 30 motorcycles to security agencies operating across Katsina-Ala, Ukum and Logo.
The motorcycles are intended to strengthen patrols and facilitate faster responses to emergencies, particularly in communities and routes that may be difficult to reach with conventional vehicles.
Alia’s announcement formed part of a broader statewide tour following his emergence as the All Progressives Congress candidate for the 2027 governorship election.
The tour is also being used to engage stakeholders through town hall meetings across Benue’s 11 federal constituencies, combining political outreach with discussions on security and development.
Beyond security, the governor unveiled plans for a new dam with a projected capacity of 460 megawatts. The proposed project, according to the statement, is expected to provide water while supporting electricity generation for residents.
The announcement adds an infrastructure dimension to the governor’s engagement with the Sankera bloc, where security concerns have often overshadowed discussions about long-term economic and social development.
Alia also used the meeting to address one of the most sensitive issues in Benue: land and ranching.
The governor assured residents that his administration would not establish a ranch in the state without the consent of the people, against the backdrop of longstanding tensions surrounding open grazing, land ownership and clashes between farming communities and pastoralists.
“Nobody will force us to cede even an inch of our land to the pastoralist for any purpose,” Alia said.
“If that must happen, I can assure you, it will not be this time that I am still the governor of Benue State.”
The governor’s position reflects the depth of public sensitivity around land use in Benue, where the Open Grazing Prohibition and Ranches Establishment Law has been a central part of the state’s response to farmer-herder conflicts.
The security challenge is also part of a wider national problem.
Recent Defence Headquarters figures show that the Armed Forces of Nigeria conducted sustained operations between August 14 and 20, rescuing 48 abducted civilians, disrupting criminal networks and conducting operations against terrorism and kidnapping across several theatres. (PRNigeria News)
Within the North Central theatre, troops operating under Operation Whirl Stroke have continued activities across Benue, Kogi, Nasarawa and Taraba.
The military reported 13 kidnap victims rescued in Kogi, alongside operations against armed groups in Benue. (Teetv News)
The planned military units in Sankera will therefore add to an existing security architecture rather than represent the area’s first military intervention.
Their effectiveness is likely to depend not only on the presence of troops, but also on intelligence sharing, cooperation with local communities and the ability of security agencies to sustain rapid-response operations.
For Alia’s administration, the combination of additional military capacity, mobility for security personnel and proposed infrastructure investment presents a broader promise to the Sankera communities: improved security alongside the foundations for longer-term development.
Also read: Governor Alia right about God’s presence in APC, but…
The governor’s statewide stakeholder engagements are expected to continue across the remaining federal constituencies in the coming days.
David Okere is a journalist and contributor to Freelanews.com, covering business, governance, public affairs, and human-interest stories with a commitment to accuracy, balance, and public interest reporting.
