The Inspector General of Police, Kayode Egbetokun, arrived in Benue State on Monday following a wave of deadly attacks by suspected herdsmen that claimed dozens of lives and displaced hundreds.
Benue, a major food-producing state in North Central Nigeria, has been grappling with persistent violence, often attributed to long-standing conflicts between local farming communities and nomadic herders over land rights and resource control.
Recent weeks have seen a surge in bloodshed, with over 160 people reportedly killed in coordinated assaults across several communities.
In response, President Bola Tinubu on Sunday issued a firm directive to security agencies, ordering them to act decisively to restore peace in the 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, stressing that all perpetrators must be arrested and prosecuted.
To reinforce efforts on the ground, the IGP has deployed additional tactical units to Benue, aiming to end the violence and restore security to affected areas.
