Inspector General of Police (IGP), Ibrahim Idris has confirmed that there are enough police men and women to adequately deal with an upsurge of community clashes, killings and other civil and criminal activities across the country.
Answering reporters’ questions today, Friday after a closed door meeting with President Muhammadu Buhari at the Presidential Villa, Abuja, the police boss said: “I cannot say Nigeria is under-policed.”
He emphasised that the police “cannot be overwhelmed” by the spate of crises that are being witnessed in many parts of the country.
He confirmed that the discussion he had with the President was how to have effective security of the Nation.
On the crisis in Benue state and herdsmen killings of over 50 people, Ibrahim said that he had already deployed a Deputy Inspector General (DIG) of Police to the affected areas to take care of the situation.
He said that the DIG would work with an Assistant Inspector General (AIG) of police already in the state, together with the Commissioner of Police in the state to address “this issue of community problems in Benue.”
He insisted that the crisis in Benue state is a communal misunderstanding.
“Obviously, it is communal crisis; herdsmen are part of the community. They are Nigerians and are part of the community are they not?”
The IGP assured that with the joint efforts of relevant security operatives, the recent crisis in Benue would not repeat itself.
“I think what we should be praying for is for Nigerians to learn to live in peace with each other. I think it is very important.”[myad]
