Herders' Killings: Buhari, Gov Ortom In Closed Door Meeting As President Orders IG To Relocate To Benue

President Muhammadu Buhari on Tuesday met with Benue State Governor, Samuel Ortom, in a closed door meeting in the Presidential Villa over the killings by suspected herders in the state.

It was reported that the governor walked into the Villa at 10:50 a.m. and worked straight to the President’s office.

This is the first time the two leaders will meet since the recent killings recorded in the state.

The meeting comes 24 hours after Abdulrahman Dambazau, the Minister of Interior, hosted five Governors over the security situation and wanton killings in the country.

Meanwhile, the president has ordered the Inspector General of Police (IG), Ibrahim Idris, to move immediately to Benue State to restore law and order and forestall the escalation of herdsmen-farmers crisis.

Buhari gave the order on Monday night as more killings of innocent people by herdsmen in Guma and Logo Local Government Areas in Benue State were reported.

According to a statement by police Spokesma, Jimoh Moshood, the IGP, in compliance with the order, is moving into the troubled state with additional five units of Police Mobile Force (PMF).

“The Aerial Surveillance by Police Helicopters will continue, while the Police Mobile Force Personnel, Police Special Forces and conventional Police Personnel, the Counter Terrorism Unit (CTU), Police Explosive Ordinance Department (EOD) and Special Police Joint Intelligence and Investigation Teams already deployed to Benue State will carry on unrelentlessly with the patrols and crime prevention activities in the affected areas to sustain the normalcy that have been restored in the State,” Moshood said.

“The Force will not hesitate to deal decisively with trouble maker(s), any group(s) or individual for conduct likely to instigate the escalation of the crisis.

“The full weight of the law will be applied on anyone arrested for being responsible for the mayhem in the affected areas in the State.

“While once again, the Nigeria Police Force commiserate with Government and the people of Benue State over the loss of innocent lives, the Force implored them to cooperate with the Nigeria Police Force in this latest effort to restore lasting peace in the State.

“The commitment of the Nigeria Police Force to ensure Law and order and protection of lives and property of all Nigerians throughout the Country remains unequivocal and unwavering.”