• Super Admin
• 07 Mar, 2026

MAKURDI: The Strengthening Peace Resilience in Nigeria (SPRiNG) programme and the Benue State Government is set to sign the Standard Operation Procedures (SOP), for the Benue State Civil Protection Guards (BSCPGs), the state security outfit. The decision to sign the SOP, follows the validation of the operation procedures that has been midwifed by the Kukah Center, since June, 2025, in Makurdi this weekend. The Standard Operating Procedures (SOP), were developed to guide the operations of the state security outfit, BSCPGs, and also provide a road map for the personnel of the outfit. The validation of the SOP, which was done alongside SPRiNG, government officials and other key stakeholders in the state is expected to lead to the training of about 300 operators of the outfit, a move that would make BSCPG operational. The project that is funded by the SPRiNG programme, an initiation of the Foreign Commonwealth and Development Office (FCDO), of the UK Government, would be implemented by Tetra Tech International Development, who are expected to provide the Technical Support for the implementation of the project. Meanwhile, Chief Joseph Har, Special Adviser to Governor Hyacinth Alia of Benue State, on Internal Security, who welcomed the development has stated that with the validation of the SOP, which would be signed by the state government, the BSCPG would commence the training. Likewise, the State Commander, BSCPG, Captain Ayuma Ajobe rtd, noted that when the Federal Government (FG) eventually approves the issue of State Police, the transition from BSCPGs to State Police, would be seamless. Earlier, the Project Manager of the Kukah Center, Terseer Bamber, noted that all things being equal, training for operators of the BSCPGs, would commence before the end of March, 2026. He explained that "Our presence here today is to continue a journey that we embarked on in Benue sometime around June, 2025, when we introduced a project to key stakeholders in Benue state, aimed at strengthening the legal and operational capacity of the BSCPGs. "So, we are doing what we agreed and documented that it will be done in two ways. The first was the assessment of the law establishing the security outfit. The second one was the provision of specialised training. "For the assessment of the law, that has been completed. And as a way of commencing the process of the training, we have developed a Standard Operating Procedure (SOP), to guide the operations of the security outfit. "So, today, we are going to be validating that standard operating document so that we have something that is standardised; something that is contextually relevant and something that reflects the challenges here in Benue state as well as provide a road map for the personnel of the security outfit to proceed. "Beginning from the validation and what we have started doing inside, by the time we are done with the validation of the document, we will move to the next step, which is ratification, at the level of the political leadership in the state. And we hope that, the Guards will have a guiding document that provides a step by step procedure of how they should go about carrying out their mandate", he stated. Also speaking on the development, the Special Adviser to Governor Alia on Internal Security, Chief Joseph Har, noted that validating the SOPs a way of saying Benue was ready for State Police. According to him, "If you look at what the President is doing you will know what he is one person who believes that State Police or Community Policing would be of immense benefit to the people of Nigeria. And you just heard the new Inspector General of Police (IGP), amplify the need for State Policing "So, the BSCPGs is like the State Police and validating this SOPs to standard is to bring them (BSCPGs) up to speed with standard operations. It is also another way to say that we are ready for State Police, anytime they say we should start. "Benue State has not just agreed to the issue of State Police, but Benue state is leading in the issue of State Police, while others are following", he stressed. In the same vein, the State Commander, BSCPG, Captain Ayuma Ajobe rtd, noted that the security outfit was fully prepared to transit from the Guards, to State Police, when the time comes. The commander said, "Honestly, to transit from what we have to a higher level, which is the State Police, for us is going to be seamles, because we are ready. We have done more preparation in readiness in the event that we are required to transit from the security outfit to State Police. "So, it's going to be seamless, there will be no hurdles, everything will move smoothly. And by the grace of God, we pray that we get to that level", he prayed. Source: https://independent.ng/spring-benue-to-sign-standard-operation-procedures-for-state-security-outfit-bscpgs/