Embattled Benue State Governor, Samuel Ortom has accused the Inspector-General of Police, Ibrahim Idris, of being an accomplice in the recent attacks by suspected herdsmen on Benue residents.
Ortom launched the accusation barely 24 hours after the police chief reportedly demanded a suspension of anti-open grazing law enacted by the state government to checkmate activities of herdsmen. Mr. Idris had testified before a closed panel of senators last Friday that the anti-open grazing law in Benue State was responsible for the latest killings that took place in the agrarian state since the turn of the year.
Already, more than 100 persons have reportedly been murdered by suspected herdsmen across the state, a development that has drawn widespread outrage and condemnation.
A senator who was present at the closed-door hearing disclosed that Mr. Idris demanded a suspension of the anti-open grazing law in Benue and elsewhere. The police chief suggested that laws against open-grazing should only be imposed when ranches have been created for the grooming of livestock, escalating a confrontation that began with Mr. Idris’ description of the killings as “a communal clash” last month.
“He asked for stoppage of implementation of the law until ranches are provided, then the law can be gradually implemented again.” the senator said, pleading anonymity.
However, in a swift response, Governor Ortom fired back at Mr. Idris saying the fact that the police had not denied the reports indicates that the Inspector-General was accurately quoted. “Our conclusion is that this is a clear case of a man who is either on a mission to mislead the nation or is complicit in the attacks on Benue communities and the killing of many people by terror herdsmen,” the governor said in a statement over the weekend.
The governor’s statement signed by his chief press secretary, Terver Akase described Mr. Idris’ claim as unfortunate, accusing him of dereliction of duty.“The unfortunate claim by the IGP indicates that some of those saddled with the responsibility of protecting and property and maintaining law and order have abdicated their duty and become accomplices with those undermining the very existence of the country. This is unacceptable.
“The Open Grazing Prohibition and Ranches Establishment Law of Benue State is certainly not the cause of the crisis as insinuated by the IGP. Mr Idris needs to be reminded that Fulani herdsmen attacked Benue State more than 50 times and killed scores of people before the law was enacted.
“The IGP should tell Nigerians if states like Adamawa, Zamfara, Kaduna, Nasarawa, Enugu, Edo, Plateau among others where armed herdsmen have killed hundreds of people also have anti-open grazing laws in place.
“It will be recalled that a few days after the killings took place and all fingers were pointed towards the direction of armed herdsmen, the IGP quickly rose in defence of the herdsmen and frankly tried to divert attention from the genocide being perpetrated by herdsmen with a comment that it was a ‘mere communal clash’. Did he not know that there was a law in place in Benue State when he made that first statement?
“With his latest demand that the ranching law of Benue be suspended, it is now clear where the loyalty and interest of the Inspector General of Police lies – certainly not with innocent Nigerians. He has now positioned himself not only as the mouthpiece of those who are killing Benue people but indeed as their shield. Little wonder herdsmen still proudly carry out sophisticated weapons and willfully terrorize innocent people in the state without being arrested,” Mr. Akase said.
The spokesperson also said Mr. Idris only spent one day in Benue, contrary to President Muhammadu Buhari’s order that he should relocate to the state. “We wish to place it on record that contrary to the directive by President Muhammadu Buhari that the Inspector General of Police should relocate to Benue to ensure that the killings stop, the IGP spent only one day in Benue and left for a destination where only he could tell. No one has seen him in Benue since that day,” Mr. Akase said.
The police us very good in egunje matters than the present task given them . It is very clear that they have been compromised as the first person that runs to the police with bribe is the winner.
Gov Ortom of Benue State says the killers are known and says clearly that the Nigerian govt is involved in these killings. He explained that he has the names of the killers. Ortom went further to say that these are attacks are geared towards taking over the land. He also asked how come nobody can arrest these killers?
