Relocate To Benue: Buhari Orders IGP Idris Over Farmer/Herdsmen Crisis
BY EDMOND ODOK, ABUJA – With condemnations and criticisms mounting over his perceived silence over alleged killings and violence unleashed by marauding Fulani Herdsmen, President Muhammadu Buhari has ordered the Inspector General of Police, Ibrahim Idris to immediately relocate to Benue and ensure the restoration of law and order in the troubled State.
According to police spokesman, Jimoh Moshood, the presidential order delivered on Monday night, also charged the IGP to forestall any possible escalation of herdsmen-farmers crisis within the state.
The directive comes on the heels of reported killings of more innocent people by herdsmen in Guma and Logo Local Government Areas in Benue State.
Accordingly, IGP Idris is moving into the troubled state with additional five units of Police Mobile Force (PMF) in compliance with the order.
The police chief had on Sunday deployed, among other security measures, five MOPOL units and there are now ten units operating in the crisis areas. This is in addition to more units of the Police Special Forces; Counter Terrorism Units; and Conventional Policemen also sent to the State on Monday.
In a statement signed by Jimoh Moshood, the Police high Command said; “The Aerial Surveillance by Police Helicopters will continue, while the Police Mobile Force Personnel, Police Special Forces and conventional Police Personnel, the Counter Terrorism Unit (CTU), Police Explosive Ordinance Department (EOD) and Special Police Joint Intelligence and Investigation Teams already deployed to Benue State will carry on un-relentlessly with the patrols and crime prevention activities in the affected areas to sustain the normalcy that have been restored in the State.”
He warned that; “The Force will not hesitate to deal decisively with trouble maker(s), any group(s) or individual for conduct likely to instigate the escalation of the crisis. The full weight of the law will be applied on anyone arrested for being responsible for the mayhem in the affected areas in the State.
“While once again, the Nigeria Police Force commiserate with Government and the people of Benue State over the loss of innocent lives, the Force implored them to cooperate with the Nigeria Police Force in this latest effort to restore lasting peace in the State.
The statement which expressed the Force’s resolve and commitment to not only ensure law and order, but the protection of lives and property of all Nigerians throughout the country, said the police remains ‘unequivocal and unwavering’ in delivering on its constitutional mandate.
