Benue State Security Council has resolved to strengthen the state laws on ranching, kidnapping, cultism and other related crimes to ensure that stiffer penalties are meted out to offenders.
Chairman of the Security Council and Governor of the state, Samuel Ortom, stated this when he briefed journalists at the end of the Council’s meeting held at the Benue Peoples (Government) House Makurdi.
He stated that Council resolved to amend necessary laws to provide more stringent punishments to offenders, stressing that a holistic appraisal of the security situation in the state was also considered including the influx of herdsmen and their cattle.
The Governor who insisted that the rule of law must prevail in Benue, stated that a committee had been set up to critically look into sections of the law that needed amendment.
Gov. Ortom acknowledged the excellent performance of security agents in fighting crime and banditry in the Food Basket of the Nation, pointing out that his earlier comment on security agencies being over-stretched was misconstrued.
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According to him, his comment was to encourage the authorities concerned to do more in providing better equipment, additional personnel and funding to enable security agents perform their functions optimally.
Ortom noted that with the support of the security council, the state has been able to contain the influx of herdsmen and other criminal acts.
“We have also reduced kidnappings to the barest minimum. Cultism is one area that is highly complicated because very high profile people are involved.
“So these are areas we want to look at in strengthening the laws to see how we can lay hands on these high profile people and punish them to serve as deterrent,” he said.
On the recent attack on parts Kwande Local Government Area, Ortom said Council agreed on the best way to tackle the situation in order to guarantee the safety of lives and property in the area.
