As the ongoing tension in Benue state persists caused by renewed killings of
residents by suspected herdsmen, President Muhammadu Buhari has ordered
the Inspector General of Police, Ibrahim Idris, to immediately relocate
to the state.
PRESIDENT ORDERS IGP TO MOVE TO BENUE STATE TO RESTORE LAW AND
ORDER AND PREVENT FURTHER LOSS OF LIVES AND ATTACKS IN GUMA AND LOGO
LGAs OF THE STATE
Following the recent unfortunate killings of innocent people in
Guma and Logo Local Government Areas in Benue State and the
intervention, and ongoing efforts of the Nigeria Police Force to restore
peace in the State, the President and commander in Chief of Armed
Forces, Federal Republic of Nigeria, His Excellency President Muhammadu
Buhari GCFR has ordered few hours ago, 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.
2. In compliance with the Presidential directives, the IGP is
moving into Benue state with additional Five (5) Units of Police Mobile
Force (PMF) making a total of Ten (10) Units of PMF deployed in the
State which is in addition to other Police formations on the ground in
the State before the crisis. More Units of the Police Special Forces,
Counter Terrorism Units, and Conventional Policemen are already being
deployed to the State as at this time today to comply in totality with
the Presidential order.
3. 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.
4. 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.
5. 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.
6. The commitment of the Nigeria Police Force to ensure Law and
order and protection of lives and property of all Nigerians throughout
the Country remains unequivocal and unwavering.
CSP JIMOH MOSHOOD
FORCE PUBLIC RELATIONS OFFICER
FORCE HEADQUARTERS
ABUJA