Benue Killings: I’m surprised IGP Idris disobeyed my directive – Buhari
President Muhammadu Buhari
President Muhammadu Buhari on Monday visited Benue, saying he was ‘surprised’ that the Inspector-General of Police, Ibrahim Idris, disobeyed his directives to stay in Benue until the bloodletting between farmers and herdsmen was resolved.
Mr. Buhari also said his government is worried about the incessant attacks on Benue’s rural communities and vowed to end the menace “very soon”.
The president had in the wake of public outcry that greeted the murder of over 70 persons by suspected herdsmen instructed the IGP to relocate to the state until the carnage was contained.
The police boss had reportedly spent less than 24 hours in the state before leaving. That action sparked from Nigerians even as the presidency failed to reprimand him.
Mr. Buhari met with farmers, herdsmen, government officials and other stakeholders in Makurdi as part of his visits to troubled states. He however, denied insinuations that he was not interested in what was happening to Benue State.
“I cannot overlook the killings in Benue or any other part of Nigeria. I cannot do that. I am genuinely worried about the attacks in Benue and we are doing everything to end them,” he said.
He said the insecurity in some states was a major concern to his government, and that concerted efforts were being made to restore normalcy to every part of the country.
Mr. Buhari said he was surprised that the IGP did not spend 24 hours in Benue when he directed him to relocate to the state and remain there till peace was restored.
“I am getting to know this in this meeting. I am quite surprised,” he said.
He, however, said the meeting was not the best place to expose the inefficiency of his appointees. He appealed to Benue people to exercise restraint and live in peace with their neighbours.
Why the president did not know that IGP Idris disobeyed his order remained unclear. PREMIUM TIMES had on February 1 published an exclusive report detailing how the police boss failed to relocate to Benue as directed by Mr. Buhari [READ THAT REPORT HERE]
But in his speech on Monday, Mr. Buhari appealed to the people to pay more attention to farming, especially rice cultivation. He said rice importation had dropped by 90 per cent since some states embarked on massive production of the commodity.
Arrest Miyetti Allah
Speaking earlier, Governor Samuel Ortomappealed to the president to upgrade the ongoing military exercise in the state tagged “Ayem Akpatema”, to a wider operation to effectively curb herdsmen attacks.
“If the exercise is upgraded to a wider operation, it will assist greatly in ending the incessant attacks and senseless killings by herdsmen,” he said
He urged Benue people to learn to live in peace with other people.
Mr. Ortom said many states were currently involved in massive cultivation of rice, and urged his people to join the trend.
The governor reiterated his call for the arrest of the leadership of Miyetti Allah Kautal Hore, alleging that the body was responsible for the killings in Benue.
Mr. Ortom maintained that ranching was the best option for cattle breeding in Nigeria, and advised herdsmen to embrace it so as to minimise clashes caused by open grazing.
He also called on the federal government to take over the management of the Benue University Teaching Hospital, College of Education, Katsina-Ala and Benue Polytechnic, Ugbokolo.
Shetima Mohammed, a representative of Miyetti Allah Cattle Breeders Association of Nigeria (MACBAN), Benue Chapter, however, denied responsibility for the Benue attacks.
“Our association is a peace-loving one and the exact opposite of what is being portrayed,” he said.
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