Inspector General of Police Olatunji Disu has warned against the illegal bearing of arms, stressing that only the police are authorized to carry weapons and that officers will act decisively against armed criminals.
Speaking at a security stakeholders’ meeting in Makurdi, Disu described the level of insecurity in Benue State as unacceptable, noting that the state once known for peace has been overtaken by violence that now goes beyond farmer herder clashes to include organized criminal gangs and kidnappers. He said the police have been directed to act firmly against armed criminals under existing force regulations, and conveyed President Bola Tinubu’s directive that insecurity in the state will no longer be tolerated, calling for an end to the cycle of attacks and reprisals.
Benue State Governor Hyacinth Alia welcomed the visit, describing it as a demonstration of the police force’s commitment to tackling insecurity through community policing and collaboration with state governments, and said his administration has strengthened coordination through regular security council meetings and intelligence sharing while continuing to support security personnel and families of officers killed in the line of duty.
