The latest report on the Federal Government’s response to the endless killings and invasion of farmlands in Benue State by herdsmen and their cattle is that the Inspector-General of Police, Mr. Ibrahim Idris, ostensibly to stem the unfortunate tide of carnage, has carried out a major shake-up of the state Police Command. According to reports, 129 police officers have been transferred out of the state. Affected are also the police officers attached to Governor Samuel Ortom who was out of the country.
Officers affected include the governor’s Chief Security Officer, CSO, CSP Dominic Iormimbe, who was transferred to Abia State. The ADC of the governor, ASP Julius Nyipilla, was transferred to Imo State; Government House Camp Commandant, ASP Timothy Ayakpam, was moved to Ebonyi State, as well as Ortom’s police orderly.
Further breakdown revealed that 10 officers were transferred from Benue to Abia State, four to Adamawa, seven to Akwa Ibom, 10 to Anambra, 10 to Bayelsa, 10 to Delta, four were transferred to Ebonyi State, six from Benue to Edo State, 10 to Imo, 10 to Katsina, nine to Ondo, 10 to Osun, nine to Oyo and 10 others were transferred to Rivers. The letter dated April 12, 2018, with reference N0. CB: 4770/FS/FHQ/ABJ/Vol.10/281, which was addressed to all commissioners of police in the country, was signed by signed on behalf of the IGP by Abdul Bube, an Assistant Inspector-General, AIG, and Force Secretary.
A careful following of the development in Benue State has showed that the IGP has been indicted by the court of public appraisal by failing to act decisively in order to quell the orgy of destructions of lives and property. The entire Force under his leadership has been largely seen to be partisan. The peak of this was the controversial statements by the Force Headquarters, an open direct confrontation directed at the embattled Benue State governor, Ortom, to resign if he could not govern the state. This was after the widely condemned statement attributed to the IGP who was said to have described the crisis in the state as a communal one.
President Muhammadu Buhari had claimed that he was unaware that the IGP left his duty post in Benue contrary to his instruction. Yet, there are no consequences whatsoever. The worst, obviously, is the fact that the Police has failed to enforce the anti-grazing law in Benue State. It is on record that what is been happening in Benue and other states under the siege of killer herders and armed gangs is an irredeemable national shame and reproach.
The massive redeployment of personnel in the state police command may convey a positive step. It suggests that the IGP has posted to the troubled state men and officers he can trust to do the job; however, the need for the IGP to lead by example is the most imperative at the moment. The IGP has failed woefully in this regard. He has not been on top of his job. He failed the nation.
The country is waiting to see whether the new deployment will restore peace in Benue, Taraba, Plateau, Southern Kaduna, Zamfara and other States.
