Insecurity in Benue will no longer be tolerated – Tinubu

It is unacceptable, says IGP Disu

President Bola Tinubu has directed an end to attacks and reprisals in Benue State, stating that insecurity in the state will no longer be tolerated.

The President conveyed this through the Inspector-General of Police (IGP), Olatunji Disu, during a stakeholders’ meeting at the Government House in Makurdi on Thursday.

Speaking during the meeting, IGP Disu described the insecurity in Benue as unacceptable, saying it has remained a source of “sleepless nights” for residents and security agencies.

Disu lamented that Benue, once known as a peaceful and hospitable state, has been overtaken by violence, assuring residents that President Bola Tinubu had directed that the wave of killings and criminal activities in the state must be brought to an end.

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

He urged youths not to allow themselves to be used by influential individuals to perpetrate violence.

He condemned the cycle of attacks and reprisals, stressing that it must end, and conveyed President Tinubu’s directive that insecurity in Benue would no longer be tolerated.

He warned that only authorised security personnel were permitted to bear arms and vowed to crack down on illegal firearms, adding that police officers had been directed to act decisively under Force Order 237 when confronted by armed criminals.

He called on elders, traditional rulers, youths and community leaders to cooperate with security agencies and promised to remain a regular visitor to Benue until peace was restored.

Disu urged Benue youths to shun violence and resist being used as political thugs, especially during elections, noting that young people often bear the greatest burden of conflicts. He also encouraged parents to caution their children against participating in violence.

While reacting to concerns about the performance of the police, Disu said Nigerian police officers, soldiers and professionals are respected globally for their competence, stressing that the challenge at home requires collective efforts to overcome.

He acknowledged the difficult terrain in Benue and admitted that the police were not perfect, saying the force remained committed to ending impunity and improving professionalism. He assured residents that all complaints against police officers would be investigated and appropriate action taken.

The Inspector-General of Police in charge of Mobile Policing, Mr Francis Iduh, disclosed that the force had identified 14 major security flashpoints across Benue for targeted operations. He said the areas, including Gbajimba, Arufu, Agasha, Kwande, Agatu, Naka, Otukpo, Makurdi, Apa and other vulnerable communities, had been mapped for intensive surveillance and security intervention.

Iduh said the planned 14-day operation would involve stability and clearance patrols aimed at reclaiming forests, farmlands and other criminal enclaves. He added that the operation would target criminals, including armed herders and bandits, without victimising innocent citizens.

“If communities partner with us and provide credible intelligence, we will deal with criminals without criminalising law-abiding citizens,” he said.

Benue State Governor, Rev. Fr. Hyacinth Alia, welcomed Inspector-General of Police Olatunji Disu and his delegation to the state, describing the visit as timely and a demonstration of the Nigeria Police Force’s commitment to tackling insecurity through community policing and collaboration with state governments.

The governor said Benue’s strategic role as Nigeria’s food basket made the prevailing insecurity unacceptable, noting that attacks on communities had resulted in loss of lives, disrupted farming activities and threatened national food security.

Alia highlighted his administration’s support for security agencies through the provision of operational vehicles, motorcycles, communication equipment and other logistics, while pledging full backing for the proposed 14-day security operation across the state.

The governor commended the IGP for engaging directly with stakeholders and accepting criticism aimed at improving policing. He also commended the new Commissioner of Police, Cletus Nwadiogbu, for prioritising community engagement.

Alia reiterated his support for the establishment of state police, arguing that officers who understand the local terrain, borders and communities would be better positioned to address insecurity. He said the debate should now focus on how state policing would operate rather than whether it was necessary.

In his remarks, the paramount ruler of the Tiv people, the Tor Tiv, Prof. James Ayatse, lauded the IGP’s commitment to restoring peace and agreed that the current situation was unlike the Benue of old.

He identified four major security threats, namely armed criminal herders allegedly attacking communities from neighbouring Nasarawa State, killing residents, destroying farms and occupying ancestral lands; indigenous armed gangs involved in kidnappings, robberies and violent crimes, many of whom were allegedly empowered during election periods; local communal and boundary disputes, which he said were comparatively minor and largely under control; as well as cult groups operating in urban centres and engaging in robbery, killings and other criminal activities.

The Tor Tiv said many communities had been displaced, with numerous residents living outside formal internally displaced persons (IDP) camps. He expressed concern that attacks continued despite intelligence reports warning of impending invasions.

He urged the police to investigate possible sponsors of the attacks, pledging the full support of the Benue people for efforts to restore peace.

Speaking on behalf of Jama’atu Nasril Islam (JNI), Benue State, the Chairman, Garba Baba, said Muslims in Benue had no conflict with any group and pledged full support for Governor Hyacinth Alia’s administration and efforts to restore peace. Meanwhile, the Vice Chairman of the Christian Association of Nigeria (CAN), Rev. Jonathan Ugbede, appreciated President Tinubu, First Lady Oluremi Tinubu and the IGP for showing concern over Benue’s security challenges.

He also commended the state government for its developmental efforts despite insecurity and urged the police to respond swiftly to threats posted on social media before attacks occur.

He recommended regular dialogue between the police, traditional rulers, youths, religious leaders and community groups to improve intelligence gathering and crime prevention, expressing confidence that stronger community engagement would help address insecurity in the state.