The police in Benue are holding back on their offensive against suspected killer herdsmen on rampage across the North-Central state, saying they would prioritise an immediate succour and enduring tranquillity for the affected communities instead.

The Benue police commissioner, Bashir Makama, revealed this on Wednesday night that the police are concentrating their energy and resources towards a safe return of recently displaced residents to their communities.

“Let there be peace. Let there be calm. Then, the suspects can be followed and arrested,” Mr. Makama said by telephone amidst demands for government clampdown on the culprits which followed widespread outrage about the killings.

But anti-open grazing campaigners faulted the police tactics, warning that the comments could fuel speculation that the federal government was colluding with the herdsmen.

“You beat the iron while it’s still hot, that’s the blacksmith principle,” said David Ogbole, a Pentecostal preacher in Makurdi who leads a civic coalition against herdsmen activities in Benue State. “The blacksmith knows that if you beat the iron after it gets cold, it won’t bend.”

An estimated 69 people have been killed in suspected herdsmen attacks on villages in the agrarian Benue State between December 31 and January 8, according to Benue State Government officials.

Fifty-nine of the deceased are slated for a mass burial in a village near the Air Force Base in Makurdi, the state capital, on Thursday morning.

The figures include the three officers killed following an ambush on a police patrol team on Monday in Logo Local Government Area, about 200 kilometres east of Makurdi.

The local government was amongst the two local government areas razed down by suspected herdsmen between the New Year eve and New Year day.

Dear NPF,

It is not a secret that you are one of the scums of the earth when it comes to policing and protecting the lives of citizens. While we don't expect that you go against your Fulani lords, you could as well have brought forth a meaningful excuse as to why you wouldn't bring these herdsmen to book instead of the pesky excuse of claiming to channelling your strengths into safe return of recently displaced residents to their communities.

We all know you would sing your own praises about how you restored the people of Benue to their lands when you didn't make any arrest.

that is it. But When they arrested Evans he was still hot in the business na. Kemi Olunloyo is still hot in prison oh. when they arrested her many people were happy. who won talk now. nobody. adeboye and chris and oyedepo and kumuyi they are all cozying in the private jets. knives no day touch those ones. wetin dem care?

Peace is all what we seeking for. Nigeria will be great again

if u ar here expecting nijeriyan police under d control of Islamist to go after herds men terrorist den u will wait till eternity. u see why all top security post such as dss, customs, immigration, army, airforce, civil defence, now nia were given to northerners? it was for a moment like dis. to give maximum protection to fulani herds men as dey wrect havoc on non muslim communities. d last equation for total northernization of security apparatus was completed with d appointment of a northerner as substantive dg of nia.

now d coalition of Jihadist in buari's govt can plan, direct n execute strategic jihadic violence through herds men on non muslims in nijeriya without d presence of infidels. oke former dg of nia was an infidel so he had to be taken out, by exposing dier cash through efcc. (by d way, notin will come out from Osborne tower cash investigation.)

d move to fulfill usman dan fodio's command to spread jihad n take ova nijeriyan as an estate of Islam is now on full gear!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
trust me it will get worse!!!
infidels in nijeriya ar in serious trouble.

Nnamdi Kanu already prophesied it!

Northern Christians, good morning.

Remember that Biafrans are terrorists while the Caliphate aka Fulani herdsmen terrorists are your friends.

ipob carry flag = total masacre

fulani kills many innocent = call for peace

buhari, am ashamed to say critics were right all along

you make it difficult to support you ,

i regret ever supporting you ,

you are president only to the fulanis .

you refused to proscribe fulani herdsmen

thereby encouraging them to kill more innocent .

posterity will judge you!

your son had an accident out of extravagance ,

you and your wife ran to hospital

to spend sleepless nights

but other people's children died while going about their normal life

it's okay

they are not fulanis

and better still for you

it's your kinsmen doing the mayhem .

it's not too late though

2019, we will use our power

to oust you back to daura

amen

Return the community who escaped so they will be killed.

dis ppe re not yet serious,how many pple did kanu kill before u went after him?

Lol, dey're scared jor..nija police no get shame atal