IGP vows to arrest, prosecute suspected herdsmen killers in Benue

The Inspector General of Police, IGP Ibrahim Idris, on Wednesday, said all those suspected herdsmen who attacked Benue State communities will be arrested and prosecuted.

Speaking at a town hall meeting in Makurdi, in line with the directives of President Mohammed Buhari that the Inspector General of Police moves immediately to Benue State to restore law and order, prevent further loss of lives and forestall the crisis from escalating and spreading in the state; IGP Idris said no one has the right to take another person’s life and the Police will investigate, arrest and prosecute all those involved.

It would be recalled that the IGP moved into Benue state with additional five units of Police Mobile Force (PMF) making a total of ten units of PMF deployed in the State which is in addition to other Police formations on the ground in the State before the crisis.

According to the IGP, “I assure you that all those responsible for these killings will be arrested and prosecuted. I am here with more units of the Police Special Forces, Counter Terrorism Units, and Conventional Policemen are already here.

“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.”

Benue State Governor, Samuel Ortom called for the arrest of the leaders of the Mytte Allah, who he accused of inciting violence against Benue people.

The governor further insisted that there was no going back on the Anti Open Grazing Laws‎ as it was a enacted as a result of popular demand from the people of Benue State after enduring several attacks from suspected herdsmen.

Governor Ortom further alerted the IGP that investigations and intelligence have shown that the suspected Herdsmen, who attack Benue communities, come from neighbouring Nasarawa state.

On the mass burial of 73 victims of the attacks from January 1 to date, the governor appealed for calm and urged his people to remain calm even in the obvious provocation.