By Peter Duru, Makurdi

Participants of Senior Course 48 of the Armed Forces Command and Staff College (AFCSC), Jaji, Kaduna, have commended the Benue state government for its efforts in promoting peace, security and community engagement amid persistent security challenges in the state.

The delegation, which visited Makurdi Local Government Council as part of the college’s nationwide study tour, said findings from their engagements with stakeholders and security agencies in the state would form part of recommendations aimed at strengthening national security and development across the country.

Speaking during an interactive session with officials and staff of the council, the team leader, Brigadier General Mohammed Abdullahi, represented by Navy Captain Mohammed Usman, explained that Benue was deliberately selected for the study because of its recent security experiences.

He explained that the annual Nigerian Study Tour was designed to expose senior military officers to practical governance, security management and community engagement strategies being implemented across selected states.

“This year’s study tour is themed, ‘Promoting Community Engagement for Enhanced National Security and Prosperity,’” Gen Abdullahi stated.

According to him, “What we do from time to time is identify major national issues and task our students to study them critically. We have engaged with all the security agencies across the state to examine measures put in place to sustain peace, security and development.

“From what we have gathered, we are expected to go back and put forward recommendations that would enhance national security and development. I can assure you that Benue State is going to benefit from this tour. Very soon, the issue of insecurity will become a thing of the past.”

He disclosed that the delegation comprised 57 male and four female senior military officers, directing staff and participants drawn from the Armed Forces of Nigeria as well as allied countries including Ghana, the Republic of Benin and Chad.

Gen. Abdullahi noted that beyond military operations, the study tour also seeks to encourage policy engagement and practical solutions to contemporary security challenges confronting the country.

In his remarks, the Executive Chairman of Makurdi Local Government Council, Mr. Joseph Keffi, stressed the importance of community participation in achieving sustainable peace and security.

He said security could not be achieved through military action alone, insisting that collaboration among government, security agencies, traditional rulers and residents remained critical.

He emphasized that  “sustainable peace can only be achieved through strong collaboration between government, security agencies, traditional institutions and the people.

“To strengthen community participation, we have continued to engage traditional rulers and community leaders in peacebuilding, conflict resolution and grassroots intelligence gathering.

“We have also supported community vigilance groups to work in synergy with security agencies within the framework of the law,” Keffi added.

The council chairman added that his administration had prioritised youth empowerment programmes, vocational training and agricultural initiatives as part of efforts to address unemployment and poverty, which he identified as major drivers of insecurity.

Keffi also commended Governor Hyacinth Alia for what he described as unwavering support toward peace, infrastructure development and security interventions across the state.

He further praised the leadership of AFCSC Jaji for sustaining what he called a valuable tradition of intellectual engagement and practical learning in addressing Nigeria’s security challenges.