As the smouldering smoke from the mass slaughter and destruction by the Fulani herdsmen subsides in Benue State, there have been various accusations and counter-accusations among stakeholders and principal players in the Nigerian politics, as to who is to blame for the mass killings.
We wish to place it on record that contrary to the directive by President Muhammadu Buhari that the Inspector-General of Police should relocate to Benue to ensure that the killings stop, the IGP spent only one day in Benue
The Governor of the state, Dr. Samuel Ortom, does not hide his feelings as he is blaming the President Muhammadu Buhari administration for not being proactive and responsive, despite many distress calls on him to save the Benue people from extermination.
But the Inspector General of Police, Ibrahim Idris, is not happy with Ortom’s outburst, describing it as capable of heating up the system and causing fresh hostilities among the Benue people.
But in hitting back at the Benue governor, Idris went farther afield by accusing the governor of being the cause of the herders’ attack through the promulgation of the anti-open grazing law.
Ortom too replied, saying the police IG was patently loyal to the Fulani herdsmen, and as such, could not be trusted to manage the security of the Benue people.
Ortom, who suggested Idris should resign, also accused him of disobeying the order of President Muhammadu Buhari to relocate to Benue and end the carnage, adding that the IGP only spent a day in the state, contrary to the President’s directive.
He further noted that contrary to views being peddled by the police authorities that peace had returned to Benue, the onslaughts were still on.
He stated, “We wish to place it on record that contrary to the directive by President Muhammadu Buhari that the Inspector-General of Police should relocate to Benue to ensure that the killings stop, the IGP spent only one day in Benue and left for a destination where only he could tell. No one has seen him in Benue since that day.
“Nigerians must know that contrary to the statement credited to the IGP, herdsmen are still killing people in Benue. It will, therefore, be wrong to say that enough security has been provided.
“It will be recalled that a few days after the killings took place and all fingers were pointed towards the direction of armed herdsmen, the IGP quickly rose in defence of the herdsmen and frantically tried to divert attention from the genocide being perpetrated by herdsmen with a comment that it was a ‘mere communal clash.’”
The governor added, “With his latest demand that the ranching law of Benue be suspended, it is now clear where the loyalty and interest of the Inspector-General of Police lies – certainly not with innocent Nigerians. He has now positioned himself not only as the mouthpiece of those who are killing Benue people but indeed as their shield. Little wonder herdsmen still proudly carry about sophisticated weapons and willfully terrorise innocent people in the state without being arrested.
It is a great disservice to the Inspector-General of Police and the entire Nigeria Police Force for the governor to call for his resignation; the governor should resign first. And that is why we felt you don’t join issues with a drowning man
“There is no surprise that the police ignored petitions for the arrest and prosecution of leaders of the Miyetti Allah Kautal, the masterminds of the current invasion and the attendant massacre. If the Inspector-General of Police, Idris is not competent to help bring an end to the invasion and killing of innocent people in Benue and other states by herdsmen, the noble thing to do is to resign instead of twisting facts to suit his objective.”
Meanwhile, the IGP’s reaction when he appeared before a Senate committee investigating the herdsmen crisis, said Ortom should be blamed. He condemned what he called “the display of victims of the herdsmen and farmers clashes during their burial” as another reason the crisis escalated.
His submission generated much controversy following his advice that governors should suspend the anti-grazing law until ranches were put in place. He said the law had worsened the violence between farmers and the herdsmen.
Meanwhile, spokesmen to both the IG and Ortom have taken over the war of words, in defence of their respective principals.
The governor’s reaction was met with sharp criticism by the Force Public Relations Officer, Jimoh Moshood, who said his principal would not join issues with the governor, describing him as a “a drowning man”.
Moshood, who spoke on a national TV, said, “It is a great disservice to the Inspector-General of Police and the entire Nigeria Police Force for the governor to call for his resignation; the governor should resign first.
“The document presented to the senate is for action by the Senate. And nobody can make any part or complete document public until the senate makes a decision on it and passes a resolution.
“And that is why we felt you don’t join issues with a drowning man.”
The Chief Press Secretary to the Governor, Terver Akase, who was also a guest on the programme, however, protested, demanding that Moshood should withdraw his statement.
It now remains to be seen, who will bat an eyelid, as diatribes on the Benue carnage fester.
