The Benue State Command of the Nigeria Security and Civil Defence Corps (NSCDC) has convened a Critical National Assets and Infrastructure (CNAI) State-Level Security and Stakeholders Coordination Meeting in Makurdi to strengthen strategies against vandalism of vital national assets and infrastructure.

The meeting, held in line with the directives of the NSCDC Commandant General, Professor Ahmed Abubakar Audi, and the marching orders of the Office of the National Security Adviser (NSA), brought together top security agencies, government officials, and civil society actors to share ideas, review progress, and chart new collaborative measures.

In her address, the State Commandant, CC L.A. Bitrus, disclosed that the Command had achieved notable successes in the past year, arresting 22 suspected vandals, 15 of whom are already being prosecuted in court. She stressed that vandalism cannot be tackled by any single agency alone, urging all stakeholders to deepen synergy in safeguarding critical assets across the state.

The Head of the Critical National Assets and Infrastructure Department, DCC Adegbe Ibrahim, praised the Commandant for convening the meeting and outlined the department’s areas of focus, which include oil and gas facilities, power installations, telecommunications systems, transport networks, mining sites, water systems, and government buildings.

Discussions at the meeting highlighted the need for sustained engagements among stakeholders, value reorientation programmes to dissuade youths from vandalism, and stronger cooperation among security agencies, communities, and civil society organisations. Participants also identified the existence of illegal markets for stolen items as a key driver of vandalism and agreed on the urgent need to shut them down. They further resolved that suspects arrested for vandalism should always be prosecuted under the NSCDC to ensure strict and consistent punishment that will deter offenders.

The forum was attended by the State Director of the Department of State Services, Dr. Nka Obi-Bosong; the State Comptroller of Immigration, CIS A.A. Wanogo; the State Commissioner of Police, represented by the Deputy Commissioner of Police, Administration; the Senior Special Assistant to the Governor on Security; and other key stakeholders.

At the end of the engagement, participants commended the NSCDC for its proactive leadership and reaffirmed their commitment to stronger collaboration in protecting Benue State’s critical national assets and infrastructure.