BENUE KILLINGS: IGP Apologizes to Benue People over Comments, Relocates to Benue
FromAustine Tule, Makurdi
Inspector General of Police Mohamed Kpotum Idris yesterday apologize to Benue people over comments he made over the killings in Benue which alluded to the fact that they were as a result of communal crisis between herdsmen and Tiv farmers.
Idris tendered the apology at the Benue Peoplea��s House Makurdi while addressing a stakeholders meeting on arrival to the state to cuel the crisis as directed by President Muhamadu Buhari following killings been carried out by suspected Fulani herdsmen.
He informed that the statement was not no aimed at making a mockery out of the peoples travails but was rather a professional way of addressing crisis among people bearing in mind that both are expected to be their brothera��s keeper and co-exist as brothers and sisters and commiserated with the government and the people of the state over the unfortunate act.
He informed that already, 10 operational mobile units and other intelligence wing were in the state to begin operation adding that Arial surveillance was also going to be fully applied in the operations.
IGP Idris who assured the people of the state that the force was going to do everything possible towards putting an end to the killings and will also ensure that perpetrators of the dastardly acts were also apprehended and made to face justice as directed by the President.
He sued for corporation and understanding on the part of the people by way of volunteering information that would assist the various Police Formations carrying out the operations to succeed.
On allegations that the attackers were been haboured in Tungi village in Awe Local Government Area of Nasarawa state leveled by Governor Samuel Ortom, the Police Boss informed that he was going to investigate into the matter stressing that as part of the peace building efforts, he has schedule to hold talks with the Nasarawa State Government with the view to see that both state find common grounds on how best to tackle the herdsmen menace as state who share common boarders.
Tor Tiv, Ochivirigh Professor James Ayatse in his remarks lamented the seeming nonchalant posturing of the Federal Government towards issues of killer herdsmen in the state.
The paramount ruler who expressed worry over the capacity of the Nigerian Police to handle the situation however urged his subjects to give the I.G and his team the needed support while the traditional institution will also keenly observed the a�?a��modus operandia��a�� of the team and react accordingly and warned them against taking laws into their hands.
President, Benue Youth Forum Comrade Terrence Kuanum in his submission decried the lack of interest shown by Presiden Buhari over the crisis and urged him to as a matter of urgency visit the state on a a�?a��see it yourself missiona��a�� so he can better appreciated what the people were going through. Failure to do o so Kuanum insisted will continue pitch Benue people against his administration.
He wondered why the president will hurriedly visit other troubled areas in a section of the country or direct the military to take decisive action recounting how billions of naira are been proposed to invest in the fight against insurgency in the north and fumed why the case in Benue was been handled differently saying what was going on in the state was worse than that which was been given much attention to in the North East.
The youth activist said the people were completely disappointed in the deployment of the IGP to the state adding that it was an insult on the sensibilities of the Benue people who he noted have lost property valued in billions with many lives lost owing to persistent attacks by the herders without any attention by the Federal Government.
Earlier, Governor Samuel Ortom while welcoming the IGP informed that 72 dead bodies recovered were recovered after the attacks.
Ortom who insisted that the state was not going back on the Anti-Open grazing Law charged the IGP to help the people by doing a thorough job so as to justify the confidence the people were beginning to build with his arrival in the state.
Governor Ortom informed further that the 72 slain Benue Heroes according to him will be given a mass burial along KM 3 Makurdi a��Naka Federal Road in Makurdi on Thursday this week.