THE Inspector General of Police (IGP), Mr. Ibrahim Idris, has reportedly apologised to the people of Benue State for his recent statement in which he reduced the horrendous killings by Fulani herdsmen in the state to a mere communal clash. The IGP was forced to recant at an explosive stakeholders’ meeting in Makurdi, the Benue State capital, which had the state governor, Mr. Samuel Ortom; the Tor Tiv, Professor James Ayatse; DIG Operations, Mr. Habila Joshak, and the Commissioners of Police for Benue and Nassarawa states in attendance. The IGP’s apology came just before the mass burial which the state gave the 73 hapless victims of the outrage. The apology came on the heels of a culpable dereliction of duty by the IGP whose duty is to protect lives and property. To say the least, we are not comfortable with the idea of underrating the lives of the Benue people by belittling their collective tragedy as a communal clash.

Source: Nigerian Tribune January 15, 2018 23:37 UTC