Inspector-general of police finally deploys 15 units to Benue as state government calls for his removal

NIGERIA'S inspector-general of police Ibrahim Idris has finally decided to respond to the ongoing Fulani cattle herdsmen crisis and deployed 15 extra units to Benue State after the state government passed a vote of no confidence in the Nigeria Police Force (NPF).

Over the last month, attacks by herdsmen on farming communities have intensified, with Benue and Taraba states in particular being savagely attacked. in both states, thousands of people now live in refugee camps as they are too afraid to go back to their villages amid fears that the heavily armed herdsmen will strike again.

Exasperated with the lack of action by the security forces, the Benue State government has declared that it was no longer confident in the ability of the police led by Mr Idris to provide protection for the people of the state. Over recent weeks, the NPF has been criticised for looking the other way while herdsmen attack with AK47s but it now appears that this stinging criticism has forced the police into action.

Benue State police commissioner Fatai Owoseni, said: ”The inspector-general is seriously committed to bringing to an end the killings in the state and the country. It is that commitment that informed the reinforcement of our command continuously on a daily basis to nip in the bud the act of criminality and killings in the state.

“The inspector general has continued to support us and as of today,15 squadrons from 15 states have been deployed to support the existing officers on ground. We also received the deployment of police special forces, intelligence and technical teams in the state.”

According to Mr Owoseni, the command has also rescued a non-commissioned officer who went missing during the February attack in Yogbo community in Guma Local Government Area in the battle between police and suspected herdsmen. He said  the rescued officer was unhurt, his weapon was safe, he was in high spirit and has rejoined his colleagues in the ongoing operations in Guma.

Mr Owoseni stressed that relative peace had been restored in Yogbo village, adding that the command had deployed forces in Kwande, Agatu, Gboko, Makurdi, Buruku, Katsina-Ala, Gwer West and Vandeikya local government areas for proactive measures. This came as Lawrence Onoja, the Benue State information commissioner called for the removal of Mr Idris for failing to carry out his duties.

Mr Onoja called on federal government to immediately relieve Mr Idris from his position, having failed woefully in his duties especially since the two weeks ultimatum given to him by the  Nigeria Senate to apprehend the killer herdsmen had elapsed without any meaningful arrests of the culprits. He stated that the inspector general has resorted to unprofessionally trading blame rather than confronting the problem without fear or favour.