I am surprised the Police IG did not stay in Benue as I Instructed says Buhari

President Muhammadu Buhari said he was not aware that the Inspector General of Police, Ibrahim Idris, ignored his instruction to relocate to Benue State during the crisis in the state.

He stated this at a meeting with stakeholders in Makurdi, during his visit to Benue State.

Shortly after 73 persons were killed in January following clashes between farmers and herdsmen, Buhari had asked Idris to relocate to Benue.

But during the meeting with stakeholders, Buhari was told that Idris did not spend up to 24 hours in the state.

Buhari, who expressed shock, explained that he did the needful by ordering the IG to relocate to the state.

“But I did not know that the IG did not stay in the state. I am getting to know this at this meeting. I am quite surprised,” he said.

He, however, stated that the meeting was not the best place to expose the inefficiency of his appointee.

Buhari told the meeting that he was doing his best to tackle insecurity in the land.

He expressed the hope that farmers and herdsmen would continue to coexist in the state, urging residents to learn to live together peacefully.

Buhari, however, denounced the insinuation that he abandoned the people of the state at their trying periods, saying, “I have friends here; there is no way I can deliberately overlook what is happening here and other parts of the country.


“Let me appeal to our people to apply more restraints. The relationship between farmers and herders will continue; it behoves us to keep encouraging ourselves to live together peacefully.”

He said his administration had cut down on importation of rice by 90 per cent because many states of the federation were cultivating rice in large quantity.

Buhari stated further that while he had taken note of what all stakeholders had said, he would not make any promise.

Earlier, Ortom had intimated the President that the state had lost many lives after the mass burial of 73 victims of the New Year attack.

“Sixty-five more people have been killed after the mass burial of 73 persons; 26 more were killed in Okpokwu with over 5,000 displaced in Mbatoho community.

“As of now, 170,000 people live in IDP camps across the state. Sixty per cent of IDPs are school children who should be in school.