President Muhammadu Buhari has instructed the Inspector General of
Police, Ibrahim Idris, to immediately move to Benue State to restore law
and order and prevent further loss of lives and properties, from
escalating and spreading in the state.
This follows the recent killing of innocent people in Guma and Logo
Local Government Areas of the state. In a statement by the Force Public
Relations Officer, Jimoh Moshood, it says, 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
Ten (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.
More Units of the Police Special Forces, Counter Terrorism Units, and
Conventional Policemen are already being deployed to the State as at
this time today to comply in totality with the Presidential order.
The Aerial Surveillance by Police Helicopters will continue, while
the Police Mobile Force Personnel, Police Special Forces and
conventional Police Personnel, the Counter Terrorism Unit (CTU), Police
Explosive Ordinance Department (EOD) and Special Police Joint
Intelligence and Investigation Teams already deployed to Benue State
will 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.
The Force will not hesitate to deal decisively with troublemaker(s),
any group(s) or individual for conduct likely to instigate the
escalation of the crisis. The full weight of the law will be applied to
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 the people of Benue State over the loss
of innocent lives, the Force implored them to cooperate with the Nigeria
Police Force in this latest effort to restore lasting peace in the
State.
The commitment of the Nigeria Police Force to ensure Law and order
and protection of lives and property of all Nigerians throughout the
Country remains unequivocal and unwavering.
