The Inspector General of Police (IGP), Kayode Egbetokun, on Monday arrives in Benue State in Nigeria’s North Central region, following last Friday’s deadly attack that left scores dead and hundreds displaced.
Benue, a key agricultural state, has been plagued by persistent violence allegedly carried out by suspected herdsmen. The conflict, which many link to disputes over land between indigenous farmers and nomadic pastoralists, has continued for years but has intensified in recent weeks.
In a series of coordinated assaults across multiple communities, over 160 residents were reportedly killed in the latest wave of attacks, sparking national outrage and renewed calls for urgent intervention.
Reacting to the bloodshed, President Bola Tinubu on Sunday issued fresh directives to security chiefs, insisting on the swift implementation of his earlier orders to restore peace in the troubled state.
“The latest news of wanton killings in Benue State is very depressing. We must not allow this bloodletting to continue unabated. Enough is now enough,” the President said.
“I have directed the security agencies to act decisively and arrest perpetrators of these evil acts on all sides of the conflict and prosecute them,” he added.
The IGP’s visit is seen as part of broader federal efforts to address the worsening security situation in the region.
More details to follow…
