By Agi Onda
Abuja
President Muhammadu Buhari has ordered the Inspector General of Police, Ibrahim Idris to immediately move to Benue state to restore law and order in the troubled state.
The presidential directive follows the recent unfortunate killings of innocent people in Guma and Logo local government areas of the state, which has reportedly led to the death of over 70 persons.
A statement by the Force Public Relations Officer, Force Headquarters, Abuja, CSP Jimoh Ibrahim, yesterday said, “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 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.”
The statement said more units of the police Special Forces, counter terrorism units, and conventional policemen were already being deployed to the state “to comply in totality with the presidential order.”
It added that the aerial surveillance by police helicopters would continue, while the police mobile force personnel, police special forces and conventional police personnel, the counter terrorism unit, police explosive ordinance department as well as the special police joint intelligence and investigation teams already deployed to the state would 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.
Jimoh said the Force would not hesitate to deal decisively with trouble makers, any group or individuals for conduct likely to instigate the escalation of the crisis, adding that the full weight of the law would be applied on anyone arrested for being responsible for the mayhem in the affected areas in the state.
“While once again, the Nigeria Police Force commiserate with government and people of Benue state over the loss of innocent lives, the Force implore them to cooperate with the Nigeria Police in this latest effort to restore lasting peace in the state,” he stated.
