By Hassan Zaggi
The Inspector General of Police (IGP), Usman Baba Alkali, has come under fire by the Benue Youth Forum (BYF) over what they consider a demeaning comment against the Tiv nation.
They have, therefore, requested the IGP to tender unreserved apology to the entire Tiv nation for the comment.
The Benue Youth Forum, in a statement signed by its President, Terrence Kuanum, recalled that the IGP made the “disrespectful comment to the Tiv nation” during a parley with officers and men of the Nigerian Police in Gombe State, recently.
According to the statement, the IGP was “explaining why the Police high command recently sacked three Police men, among them an Inspector of Police of Tiv origin who was serving in the Kogi State Command for various misdemeanors inimical to the image of the force and at different locations.
“It is curious that IGP Alkali mentioned the Tiv twice in two sentences without any mention of the tribes or ethnicity of the other two Police men that were also dismissed for unprofessional conduct.
“For the number one Police officer in the country to make comments like “one Tiv man” and “look at how he was dressed like a Tiv warrior” while referring to the dismissed Police Inspector is tantamount to hatred and ethnic profiling which shouldn’t be coming from someone who is expected to be neutral at all times.
“Many men and officers of Force from different tribes have been found wanting in the discharge of their duties but at no time did their ethnic groups so disparaged.
“A recent case in point is the allegations against DCP Abba Kyari and his colleagues who are currently standing trial for drug related offences. Their tribes have not been an issue.”
The group further said: “While the Benue Youth Forum will not support any act of criminality by any officer of the state as exhibited by the inglorious action of the dismissed Police Inspector which eventually cost him his job, we, on behalf of the entire Tiv nation, take exception to that blatant insult and overt spewing of vile towards the Tiv nation by the IGP.
“We therefore condemn in totality, the attempt by the IGP to disparage the Tiv people and portray them in bad light.
“Such remarks coming from a man who has always stressed the need for people to avoid ethnic profiling of criminals shows that there is much to be desired from him if he must be seen as a professional himself.
“We therefore demand an immediate withdrawal of the careless comments from IGP Usman and public apology to the Tiv nation who have been insulted by that infamous outing in Gombe.
“The BYF has utmost respect for constituted authorities and government institutions; and we expect them to be in the forefront of uniting the nation, rather than making divisive comments or taking actions capable of creating mistrust among the people.”
