From Kemi Yesufu, Abuja
Inspector General of Police (IGP), Solomon Arase, said yesterday there was no sufficient evidence to prosecute suspects arrested in connection with the bloody attacks in Agatu, Benue State.
The IGP spoke during his appearance at House of Representatives investigation into an alleged take-over of Agatu and three other local government areas in Benue State by Fulani herdsmen.
The public hearing, organised by the House Committee on Police Affairs, subsequent to a motion adopted by the House on February 17 entitled: “Alarming influx of Unidentified Herdsmen into Benue and Consequent Threat to Peace, Life and Property” had to be adjourned till yesterday owing to the absence of the IGP, the Minister of Interior, Abdulrahman Dambazzau, and representatives of Fulani herdsmen to attend the hearing on Wednesday.
But, Arase said though 18 people were already in police net in connection with the killings, he didn’t want to arraign them in court without the quality of evidence that will secure a conviction.
The IGP, called for patience and said he would present a detailed brief to the committee on the operational plan of the police for the protection of the affected communities. He noted that it would be unprofessional to openly discuss the plan.
But, he also told the lawmakers that his recent directive on mopping up unlicensed firearms formed part of the police’s response to the attacks.
He said paucity of funds, shortage of personnel, logistics and technology, were impeding police’s efforts in the crisis.
“We have apprehended some persons, may be investigation is rather slow. You must be able to assemble sufficient evidence to prosecute them. I don’t just want to prosecute people without securing conviction,” Arase said.
Meanwhile, the Tiv people in Benue State, under the aegis of Mdzough U Tiv, (MUT) are asking for N100billion compensation over the killings and destruction of property.
President-General of the socio-cultural group Edward Ujege stressed that the N100billion, which the Tiv people were asking for, could not assuage the feelings of the loss but was needed.
The Tiv leader, who had to revisit his presentation in the presence of the IGP, representatives of the Department of State Services, DSS, the Interior minister, Nigeria Security and Civil Defence Corps, NSCDC, appeared, insisted that the negligence of security forces and the federal government, which commands them, led to the death and destruction recorded between 2014 to 2016.
According to him over 984 Tiv people have been killed between 2014 and 2016.
Deputy Governor of the state, Benson Abonu, who aligned with the MUT position, alleged that the Fulani herdsmen had backing from terrorist organisations.
“The people who attacked Agatu were using sophisticated weaponry. They were dressed in black trousers and shirts and they handled the weapons in an organised manner. What we saw made us believe that there is more to the attacks, than what meets the eye” Abonu stressed.
In his ruling, chairman of the committee, Haliru Jika said another hearing will be conducted for Agatu people as well as the Benue state Commissioner of Police testify on the crisis.
Again, the Miyati Allah cattle rearers association, which has always represented the herdsmen, did not attend the investigative hearing.