The Deputy Inspector General of Police in charge of operations, Micheal Zuokumor has disclosed that the Police had deployed more personnel to Benue state as it prepares to evict Fulani herdsmen from the state.
The move follows months of restiveness, reckless violence that peaked in an attack on Benue State Governor Gabriel Suswam’s convoy earlier this week.
Zuokumor said, “as I speak with you, more policemen have already been deployed to the state; we have enough men and everything would be done to protect lives and property of the people of Benue state and all Nigerians.
“The country and the police have the wherewithal to combat crime anywhere within the territory of our country. I am in Benue with a high powered team from Force headquarters. I assure you that the issues of insecurity in Benue can and would be addressed immediately.
“We are prepared and I can assure you that we have the capacity to address all the issues that are threatening law and order in the entire state.
“We have mobilized fully and I can assure you that normalcy will definitely return to the troubled spots in the state because no one is allowed to carry fire arms against fellow citizens and that would not be allowed to continue.”
The DIG said police presence would be reinforced in iUkum, Logo, Guma, Agatu and other local government areas that have experienced trouble from the nomads in recent months.
“We want to save the lives of natives and the invaders but where there is need for force, minimum force would be used to dislodge the invaders. I therefore call for the cooperation and partnership of the press and the people so that the police can succeed. If there are killings going on, the killings would be stopped. There is the will to do it on our part and I can assure that we will do it.” he added.