The Deputy Inspector General of Police in charge of Operations, DIG Joshak Habila has said it was too early to conclude that the Islamic State in West Africa group was responsible for the killings in Benue and other northern states in recent times.
However, he said many suspects arrested in connection with the killings have been arraigned in court.
Habila said, “Investigation would show (ISWA involvement in the killings ), it is too early to draw a conclusion , but whatever it is, the truth is everybody who is committing crime would be arrested and so, we don’t want to harp on anybody, group or organisation to make it difficult to process, but a criminal is a criminal.”
Habila, who is coordinating efforts to apprehend killer herdsmen in Benue, made this known to The Punch on Monday.
Recall that the Department of State Services (DSS) and sister security agencies had reportedly forwarded to President Muhammadu Buhari a security report in which they claimed that Islamic State in West Africa terrorists were responsible for the killings.
But the DIG said he was unaware of the ISWA link, noting that the information could have been shared with his boss, the Inspector General of Police, Ibrahim Idris.
He added that there is “deep collaboration” between the police and the DSS.