The Inspector-General of Police, IGP Kayode Adeolu Egbetokun, Ph.D., NPM, has approved the creation of two new Area Commands and the upgrade of five Police Stations to Divisional status in Benue State as part of ongoing efforts to strengthen Nigeria’s internal security architecture.
The move follows a comprehensive review of the security realities in Benue, particularly in troubled Local Government Areas, where additional deployments and police presence have become critical.
Benue State has in recent years been one of the epicentres of violent clashes, banditry, communal disputes, and farmer-herder conflicts. These security challenges have led to loss of lives, displacement of communities, and disruption of livelihoods.
The restructuring of police commands and divisions represents a proactive response to operational gaps, aimed at bringing security closer to vulnerable communities while ensuring faster response to emergencies.
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New Area Commands:
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Daudu Area Command – to oversee Guma, Daudu, Yelwata, and Agan Divisions.
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Naka Area Command – to supervise Naka, Apa, Agatu, and Okpokolo Divisions.
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Upgraded Police Stations to Divisional Status:
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Ayilamo, Yelwata, Jato-Aka, Okpokolo, and Agan.
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According to the Force Headquarters, this restructuring is intended to enhance police visibility, improve response to distress calls, foster quicker resolution of conflicts, and extend policing services to difficult terrains and rural communities.
This development highlights the Nigeria Police Force’s shift towards community-driven and intelligence-led policing. By decentralizing operations and creating new Area Commands, the Police are addressing long-standing calls for closer engagement with grassroots communities.
It also reflects a broader national strategy under IGP Egbetokun to adapt policing to regional security needs, rather than relying on a one-size-fits-all model. The directive to Commissioners of Police in other volatile regions to replicate similar strategies reinforces this new approach to security management.
The creation of new Area Commands and upgraded divisions in Benue marks a significant step in restoring security, confidence, and stability in a state long plagued by violence.
For the initiative to succeed, however, the Police must combine improved presence with professionalism, community trust-building, and collaboration with local stakeholders. With adequate resources and the cooperation of the Benue people, this restructuring could become a model for tackling insecurity in other parts of Nigeria.
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