The Senior Special Assistant to the President on Community Engagement (North Central), Dr Abiodun Essiet, has commenced a three-day community dialogue and stakeholder engagement in Benue State as part of the Presidency’s efforts to tackle ongoing security concerns and promote grassroots peace-building.
The visit includes consultations with state officials and interactions with communities affected by insecurity.
It aligns with President Bola Tinubu’s plan to encourage local participation in resolving conflicts and improve cooperation on security and border management.
During the visit, Essiet met with the Deputy Governor of Benue State, Sam Ode, to discuss the security situation and ways the Federal Government and the state can collaborate more effectively on boundary and community matters.
Ode briefed the presidential aide on steps the state government is taking to address security challenges, particularly in border communities.
He also listed ongoing cooperation between Benue and neighbouring states such as Taraba and Nasarawa to tackle cross-border insecurity, land disputes and communal tensions along shared boundaries.
He assured Essiet that the state government remains committed to working with federal authorities to resolve boundary issues and strengthen peace and security in affected areas.
Essiet later paid a courtesy visit to Governor Hyacinth Alia, where she explained the objectives of the three-day engagement and the broader goals of the community dialogue programme.
The meeting allowed both sides to share feedback from residents and community leaders across the state while discussing strategies to improve dialogue mechanisms and address local conflicts.
Alia welcomed the initiative and pointed out concerns raised by residents, including the poor condition of some federal roads in parts of the state.
According to him, deteriorating road infrastructure has slowed the response of security agencies during emergencies in some rural areas.
To support the exercise, the governor directed the state’s Department of Peace and Reconciliation and the Community Engagement Unit to work closely with Essiet’s team throughout the visit.
He said the departments would coordinate with the team and align the activities with the state’s ongoing peacebuilding initiatives.
As part of the programme, Essiet is expected to assess the security situation in Kwande Local Government Area and engage stakeholders across the Benue North-East Senatorial District.
She will also convene a citizens’ assembly involving representatives from Katsina-Ala, Konshisha, Kwande, Logo, Ukum, Ushongo and Vandeikya local government areas to promote dialogue and peaceful coexistence.
The visit comes amid continued security challenges and communal tensions that have affected several communities in Benue State in recent years.
Meanwhile, defence and security stakeholders have called for the establishment of trauma support centres for widows of fallen military personnel.
They stressed the need to provide psychological, emotional and social assistance to families who lost loved ones in service.
They noted that many widows struggle with grief, trauma and financial difficulties after the death of their spouses, stressing the importance of counselling, rehabilitation programmes and welfare support.
Speaking at the Silent Heroes Coterie under the Heroes for Heroes Project organised by Youth Ablaze in Abuja, Hussaina Bangshika urged federal and state governments as well as civil society groups to collaborate in providing trauma support services.
“The government must take the lead because the fallen troops died while serving the nation and protecting its territorial integrity,” she said.
Bangshika added that although some support systems exist, they remain limited and mostly short-term.
According to her, military families often face prolonged emotional strain while their spouses are deployed for long periods, living with uncertainty about their safety.
She stressed that the trauma experienced by military families is long-term, making specialised therapy necessary for widows and soldiers returning from conflict zones.
In a goodwill message, health journalist and public health advocate, Moji Makanjuola, said no widow should be made to pay for what her husband fought and died for.
She urged the government to increase support for families of fallen heroes.
Chairman of the organising committee, Lt.-Commander Ibrahim Babainna (rtd), said a country that hopes to inspire future generations must honour the bravery of those who served.
Convener of the Heroes for Heroes Project, Dr Faith Eches, said the initiative seeks to recognise courage, celebrate commitment and acknowledge the sacrifices of individuals contributing to national development.
Presidential aide engages Benue leaders, communities over security, border issues
