By Ayomide Otitoju
Inspector General of Police (IGP) Kayode Egbetokun on Monday visited Benue State, North Central Nigeria, in the aftermath of deadly attacks by suspected herdsmen that claimed dozens of lives and displaced hundreds of residents.
The IGP’s visit comes days after a wave of coordinated assaults on rural communities, continuing a cycle of violence that has plagued the state for years. The latest attacks, which began last Friday, left over 160 people dead, according to local officials.
The longstanding conflict in Benue has been attributed to a mix of communal tensions and competition over land between indigenous farming communities and nomadic herders.
In response to the escalating crisis, President Bola Tinubu on Sunday directed security chiefs to act decisively to restore peace in the state. He reiterated his earlier order for security agencies to neutralise all threats and bring perpetrators to justice.
“The latest news of wanton killings in Benue State is very depressing,” the President said in a statement. “We must not allow this bloodletting to continue unabated. Enough is now enough.”
President Tinubu stressed that security forces must arrest those responsible for the violence “on all sides of the conflict” and ensure they face prosecution.
IGP Egbetokun’s visit is expected to assess the security situation and coordinate a tactical response with local authorities as federal security agencies intensify efforts to end the crisis.
