ABUJA—THE Inspector General of Police, Solomon Arase, vowed, yesterday, that no hoodlum or group of people will overrun the country or illegally occupy any part of it under his watch as the chief police officer.

Arase made this vow while answering questions from lawmakers at a public hearing on the “influx of herdsmen to Benue State and the clashes among Tiv, Agatu communities and Fulani herdsmen” put together by the House of Representatives Committee on Police Affairs.


He further explained that the force prioritised the protection of lives and properties of Nigerian communities, adding that “every life lost diminishes humanity as a whole.”

Arase said: “I have taken an oath to effectively police and protect every security space in Nigeria and I will continue to do that within the ambit of the law and to the best of my ability and that of my officers and men. And I make bold to say that the Nigerian state cannot be overrun by hoodlums; I can assure you.”

Earlier, the Deputy Governor of Benue State, Mr. Benson Abonu, told the committee: “There appears to be a systematic move to annihilate the people of Benue State to establish a kingdom or some kind of rulership.

“It has taken a national dimension. They want to weaken Benue, and then cross over to other parts of the country. Right now, they have their presence in Kogi, they have attacked Ekiti, Oyo and still counting. We have made this known to the Army and other security agencies.”

In their presentation earlier on Wednesday, the Tiv communities, led by President General, Mr. Edward Ujege, recommended that N100 billion compensation be paid to assuage the loss of lives and properties as well as total eviction of herdsmen.

On the way forward, the Tiv communities said: “Ranching, as the only way out of this crises, should be established and run by individuals.
“They are not government’s cattle and so government has no business providing ranches. The establishment of ranches should be done up-north, where there are vast expanse of land.”

Herdsmen shun hearing
However, the umbrella body of Fulani herdsmen in Nigeria, Miyetti Allah Cattle Rearers Association, again stayed away from the public hearing, despite receiving invitation, thrice, to appear at the hearing from the committee chairman, Haliru Jika.

The Department of State Services, DSS, told the committee it would make its written presentation in camera, as information at its disposal were sensitive.

“We have put in place strategic initiatives. The President gave a directive that I go in there and see how I can restore nomalcy and bring back peace in Benue state. I had a town hall meeting with stakeholders in Benue, where each of the parties presented their positions verbally and in writing.

“It was a very protracted argument. But before leaving, I was able to come up with some strategies as to how to mitigate this crisis, which I presented to the governments of Benue and Nasarawa states.”

Tiv youths
Tiv youths also made their presentation, saying “there was never a clash. They were calculated and well planned attacks aimed at occupation our land. There is an established vision on the pattern of attacks, which occurred on mostly coastal communities along the River Benue and River Buruku.
http://www.vanguardngr.com/2016/05/agatu-massacre-itll-never-happen-igp-assures-reps/

Following.

His promises are as worthless as the scum of sea.

Under your watch sir, thousands were killed and their homes taken by the same culprits.

under your very watch teenage girls were forcefully taken from their parents and given out for marriage. When those parents cried to you for help, you said it was beyond you.

Under your own watch sir, baby crimes have grown into abomination.

So....why would anybody believe you now?

We sure know the purpose you are serving.

And that's why i always call for total annihilation for every terrorist cell in the country


And i expect sane people to understand that , not those who will come here and tell me ND avengers or the brotherhood that followed are not terrorists

iLegend:
In a lawless country saying something will not happen again is like challenging the perpetrator.

Example: Niger Delta Avengers and Boko Haram.

The more you blab the more actions they take.
Take action, but don't talk actions.

Shouldn't he be arresting the perpetrators? Or has he met with them to know that they won't do it again.

Yesterday, he hosted PDP warring factions to settle their quarrel...a private matter.

This man deserves to be fired

Amen I pray it doesn't. Any ranch or grazing reserve. Should be in the north not south. Dis guys hv vest land mass

Stories that touches my abdomen

Where were you guys when it happened once, twice and even the third time
Trust NPF at your own peril!

Ok nah.

You mean it will never happen in Agatu but can still happen elsewhere in Nigeria.

Are u sure Mr arase

I believe he will have a smart excuse to give when next it happens again.....
In Nigeria, promises dont mean nothing..

Incompetence

Yes he is right but this time people are ready to defend themselves and no one is counting on him.

Henceforth there will be no massacre,it will be a battle, and he is right again.

Ok. Even buhari gave many assurance, bt nw wot is happening?

Oga, me and u no say NPF have been making empty promises since 1000000bc, so quit whining.

does that mean he'll resign if it happens again

This reminds me of that joke the guy told the girls father he will not disvirgin his daughter again.

But for real, y would the fulanis not make appearance at the committee level!? ... It sounds like they're in support of the perpetuated killings of innocent people. Arase speaking with all sides of his mouth.... He had to wait for killings in more than like 3 states to make this hole filled assertions as if he truly meant it.

inkon:
His promises are as worthless as the scum of sea.

Under your watch sir, thousands were killed and their homes taken by the same culprits.

under your very watch teenage girls were forcefully taken from their parents and given out for marriage. When those parents cried to you for help, you said it was beyond you.

Under your own watch sir, baby crimes have grown into abomination.

So....why would anybody believe you now?

We sure know the purpose you are serving.

IN NIGERIA. TALK IS ENOUGH! ACTION IS SECONDARY.

The only way to prevent a re-occurrence is to be preemptive. The police must improve on their intelligence gathering and have a rapid response team that would act quickly to nip any attack in the bud.

Wash

Is it in keeping with the govt of d day, or, has he taken any concrete step to forestall future occurence? D govt has filled d land with cheap talk. God help us. Amen

Shebi this same idiot had prior warning before attacks at Enugu? He went to Makurdi and said he didn't count up to 300 corpses and that next time when fleeing from attacks they should submit corpses at police stations for census n verification before burial.

What has he done to dislodge illegal fulani occupants and see to the resettlement of the natives? Is it not the same dog that said the release of a minor from a muslim rapist is dependent on the intervention of a mere Emir?

If it is IPOB protest he will not need any directive to go a-shooting! All these public officials that elevate the interest of one group over others, u and ur families will suffer forever with the slowest and most painful of diseases.

Aranse, you mean this will not happen again?
May you roast in hell.

HungerBAD:
Following.

where have u bin bro, its bin lng I saw ur post

Arase,you had said that before and it didn't change anything.Only action can bring these killings to a halt and not too much talks.Arase act now.