The Inspector General of Police, IGP Kayode Egbetokun, on Monday arrived Benue State in response to the latest wave of deadly attacks that have claimed hundreds of lives and displaced many, across the state.
The IGP’s visit followed renewed violence in the state, where armed marauders unleashed terror on multiple communities last Friday.
LEADERSHIP reports that about 160 residents were killed in what many described as one of the deadliest episodes of violence in recent years.
Benue, a key agricultural hub in North-Central part of Nigeria has long been plagued by deadly conflicts believed to stem from land disputes between indigenous farming communities and nomadic herders.
However, in recent weeks, the violence has escalated to unprecedented levels, with daily reports of attacks and mass casualties.
Sources said the IGP’s arrival in the state was part of a broader security operation, which includes deployment of additional tactical teams to support local forces in curbing the attacks and restoring normalcy to affected areas.
President Bola Tinubu, reacting to the tragic events, had condemned the killings in strong terms and ordered immediate action from security agencies.
“The latest news of wanton killings in Benue State is very depressing. We must not allow this bloodletting to continue unabated. Enough is now enough,” the President said in a statement on Sunday.
“I have directed the security agencies to act decisively and arrest perpetrators of these evil acts on all sides of the conflict and prosecute them.”
The President’s directive reinforces earlier orders for security chiefs to devise lasting solutions to the state’s persistent insecurity.
With the IGP now on ground, expectations are high among residents for rapid intervention and concrete results.
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