Benue killings: IGP, Idris apologises' to Benue people over comments.

   The Inspector General of Police, IGP,

Ibrahim Idris, Wednesday apologized to Benue people
over the comment he made wherein he referred to the
killings in Benue state as a fallout of a “communal
crisis.”
Addressing stakeholders of the state in Makurdi, IGP
Idris said his statement was misconceived and
regrettable and urged Nigerians to learn to be their
brothers keeps.
The Police boss tendered the apology after all those
who spoke at the gathering lampooned him for the
statement he supposedly made shortly after briefing
President Muhamnadu Buhari on the Benue killings.
Tendering the apology, the IGP said, “honestly as a
persons I want to apologize for the misconception of
the statement I made at a press briefing I made in
Abuja.
“What I tried to convey in that statement is that we
should live together and regard each other as our
brothers’ keepers and also ensure peaceful
coexistence.
“Irrespective of where you come from, we should be
seen as one people who should live in peace and love
for one another.
“So in essence my statement should not be seen or
regarded as my support for anyone but must be seen
to be an advice for the greater unity of our country.
The IGP assured that enough men and materials had
been drafted to the state to stop the killings in the state
and ensured of the return of peace and order in the
state.
Earlier, Governor Samuel Ortom had hinted that over
73 bodies had so been recovered from the crisis zones
in Logo and Guma local government areas constituting
mainly of women and children.
He lamented that the leadership of Miyetti Allah Kautal
Hore were still working the streets free despite
masterminding the invasion and killings in the state.
He added that “If police man can be killed just like that
and there weapons taken away by these people in
Logo, where are we going to in this country. IGP that is
a major challenge for you, I know that your weapons
cannot be taken away just like that we expect that the
you must go after this people.”
“Even in my council ward, Nzorov in Guma they
attacked again but the soldiers repelled them.
“I must state that Nigeria is passing through serious
security challenges, I pray we don’t get to the level that
our people resort to self defence. Because when
people are not sanction for their lawlessness, anarchy
and confusion would set in and nobody will be safe.
“The grazing law we made in Benue state is for the
collective interest of all, irrespective of where you
come from and it has come to stay.”
The Governor also announced the donation of five
pick up vans to the Police for the purpose of the
operation to end the killings promising to avail security
agencies all needed support to end the killings in the
state.
Also speaking, the paramount ruler of Tiv tribe and
Chairman of the Benue state Council of Chiefs, His
Majesty Professor James Ayatse said the killings in the
state by herdsmen was not about grazing or the law
but an agenda.
“Before this crisis, all the herdsmen in Gboko
disappeared creating the impression that they had
foreknowledge of the attacks and killings.”
Speaking on behalf of the Civil Siciety Organization,
CSO, Josephine Habba lamented that the attitude of
President Buhari to the killings in Benue had created
an impression that the state was not part of the
country.
“We must sound it clear that if the government cannot
protect us we may resort to self help and the
constitution allows us the right to defend ourselves.
“If the President cannot come here to sympathies with
Benue people, he should also not come to Benue to
campaign for the 2019 election.”
Speaking on behalf of the clergy, Reverend Father
Solomon Mffa appealed to President Buhari to “speak
to the conscience of your people because you
understand each other better in order to put a stop to
the senseless killings of Nigerians and Benue people in
particular.
“You know the language of the herdsmen, speak the
language and ask them to stop these killings. Also teach
these people to respect the sanctity of human lives.”
Also speaking Chief John Antenyi, the Odejo ‘K Apa and
paramount ruler of Apa local government, said the
proposed establishment of cattle colonies was another
plot by herdsmen to colonise parts of the country.
“We must embrace ranching because it is the global
practice and it will entrench peaceful coexistence
among the farmers and herders alike.
“We are also calling on the IGP to disarm all herdsmen
in the country to stem the dastardly killings being
perpetrated in parts of the country by herdsmen.
Speaking on behalf of the women, a former
Commissioner in the state Mrs. Rebecca Apedzan
urged President Buhari to draft in soldiers to tackle the
menace of herdsmen in the state adding, “if soldiers
can be drafted to the South East to stop IPOB agitation
why can’t the government do same to stop
herdsmen?”
On his part the Speaker of the State Assembly, Mr.
Terkimbi Ikyange said the grazing law in the state
passed through due process after the people had
agitated for it stressing that all segments of the state
including herdsmen also contributed to its making
maintaining that the law would never be reversed.
Retired Justice Augustine Utsaha on his part noted that
the integrity of the President was being questioned as
result of his silence and indifference to the activities of
herdsmen in the country advising that he should
redeem his image and integrity by moving against the
masterminds of the Benue killings.