Benue violence: IG orders crackdown on illegal arms bearers

The Inspector General of Police, Olatunji Disu, on Thursday, warned against people bearing arms, stating that only the police are recognised to carry arms.

The police boss, who spoke at a security stakeholders’ meeting held at the old Banquet Hall of the Government House, Makurdi, on Thursday, warned against unauthorised people bearing arms and vowed a crackdown on illegal firearms.

He said police officers had been directed to act decisively under Force Order 237 when confronted by armed criminals.

“We are the only ones recognised to carry arms around. No other person is entitled to do that.

“You cannot move around freely bearing arms and think there’s no law and order in this country. This will not be tolerated,” he said.

Disu described insecurity in Benue State as unacceptable and a source of “sleepless nights” for residents and security agencies.

He stated that Benue was once known as a peaceful and hospitable state but regretted that the state had been overtaken by violence.

The IGP noted that the crisis had gone beyond farmer-herder clashes, with criminal gangs, kidnappers and political interests worsening the situation.

While condemning the cycle of attacks in the state and reprisals, the IGP directed that such must end, just as he conveyed President Bola Tinubu’s directive that clashes and attacks would no longer be tolerated in the state.

He said, “We are tired of this issue of attacks and retaliation. When you attack, then you hear of retaliation.”

Governor Hyacinth Alia appreciated the IGP’s visit, describing it as timely and a demonstration of the police’s commitment to tackling insecurity through community policing and collaboration with state governments.

Alia regretted that attacks on communities in the state had resulted in the loss of many lives, disrupted farming activities and threatened national food security.

He said his administration had strengthened inter-agency collaboration through regular security council meetings, intelligence sharing and coordinated operations, as he promised to continue in supporting security personnel and the families of fallen heroes.