The Nigerian Police Force has commenced counter-terrorism operations in Benue State following the recent spates of killings carried out by suspected fulani herdsmen.
Fatai Owoseni, commissioner of Police in Benue State, on Sunday, February 4, 2018 confirmed the commencement of the counter-terrorism operation in an interview on Channels television monitored by The Trent.
Speaking via telephone, Owoseni stated that already, the operations were yielding expected results as three armed herdsmen have been killed, and the police counter-terrorism and special force team was called in for mop-up operations.
Owoseni also stated that a policeman was missing, adding that credible intelligence revealed the targeting of police personnel by the armed herdsmen.
Samuel Ortom, the governor of Benue State, had asked Ibrahim Idris, the inspector-general of police, to resign if he is overwhelmed with the enormity of his job.
In a statement released on Saturday, February 3, 2018, Terver Akase, media aide to the governor, quoted Ortom as saying that Idris is on a mission to mislead Nigerians.
“If truly the IGP said what was widely reported by the media, our conclusion is that he is a clear case of a man who is either on a mission to mislead the nation or is complicit in the attacks on Benue communities and the killing of many people by terror herdsmen,” the statement read.
“With his latest demand that the ranching law of Benue be suspended, it is now clear where the loyalty and interest of the inspector-general of police lies — certainly not with innocent Nigerians.
“Little wonder herdsmen still proudly carry out sophisticated weapons and willfully terrorise innocent people in the state without being arrested.
“We wish to place it on record that contrary to the directive by President Muhammadu Buhari that the IGP should relocate to Benue to ensure that the killings stop, the IGP spent only one day in Benue and left for a destination where only he can tell. No one has seen him in Benue since that day.
“Benue now has nearly 100,000 internally displaced persons in seven camps established by the state government. We therefore find IG Idris statement as a mockery and a shameful dance on the graves of those killed in the state by herdsmen.
“If the inspector-general of police, Mr. Idris, is not competent to help bring an end to the invasion and killing of innocent people in Benue and other states by herdsmen, the noble thing to do is to resign instead of twisting facts to suit his objective.”
