Special Adviser to the governor of Benue State on Security and Internal Affairs, Joseph Har, yesterday, ordered the immediate clearance of bushes and clumps along the Makurdi – Lafia road.

The Makurdi – Lafia road is notorious for bandits, kidnappers and herders’ attacks with most settlements and communities on the Benue side of the road deserted.

Only two communities, Daudu and Yelwata, are still inhabited on the about 50 kilometres stretch of the Benue side of the road. The Nasarawa portion of the road from Kadarko to Lafia is relatively safer with communities and settlements along the road still going about their normal businesses.

The Security Advisor said: “On our way from Abuja to Makurdi, sensing the danger this poses to motorists, I put a call to the Ter Guma His Royal Highness Dennis Shemberga, and he mobilised the chiefs to bring out youths for what you are seeing here.

“ This is what is called Crime Prevention through Environmental Design (CPTED). Making the environment serene enough for proper deterrence and detection of criminals.”

In an earlier interaction with The Guardian, Har who was a one-time officer-in-charge of Marine Company, Nigerian Army, Port Harcourt, called for a database of the Bank Verification Number (BVN) and the National Identification Number (NIN) as part of measures to safeguard national security.

According to him, a database by traditional and other leaders having details of citizens will put the would-be criminals in check, while the presence of an outsider or stranger will be easily detected, thereby making policing easier.

He said security was the collective business of every citizen instead of the erroneous assumption that only uniformed personnel should be concerned with insecurity.

He advised communities to take stock of their members as well as newcomers and strangers in their midst.