Amidst the ongoing efforts to resolve the ethnic crisis in Plateau State, the Acting Inspector of General of Police, IGP, Kayode Egbetokun, has met with the governor of the state, Caleb Muftwang.
The governor who met with the government in the government house, has urged the people of the state to refrain from reading religious or ethnic meanings to the killing in the state.
The state has been under constant attacks by those believed to be Fulani herdsmen, leaving many residents to flee from their homes to escape being killed by the criminals.
Those familiar with the crisis have blamed rivalry among the Fulani and indigenes for the restiveness which has led to the killing of many people in recent years.
On June 13, over 20 people, including a cleric, were killed in Riyom and Barking Local Government Areas. of Plateau State.
Also on June 18, 13 people were killed in the same local government as the reprisal attacks between herders and farming communities surged.
But speaking during his tour of the state to ascertain the level of damage, Egbetoku said the killing should be regarded as pure criminality.
According to a statement issued by Muyiwa Adejobi, the Force’s Public Relations Officer, the IGP also met with critical stakeholders with a view to resolving the prevailing security situation in the state.
The statement said: “Similarly, the IGP proceeded to Mangu Local Government Area of the state, the epicenter of the immediate security challenge, where he actively engaged with the local community and police operatives on the ground to corroborate intelligence received on the situation.
“The interaction provided a platform for open dialogue and enabled the IGP to assess the state of affairs, gather valuable insights, and reinforced the commitment of the Police to addressing the security challenges faced by the people of Mangu and restoring peace and order in the area.
“The Inspector-General of Police, therefore, emphasized the need for improved preventive deployments, effective intelligence gathering, and community engagements to proactively address the security concerns in Mangu.
“The IGP while reaffirming the commitment of the NPF to protect lives and property, and restore peace and harmony in the area, reiterated the NPF’s resoluteness in its determination to deploy necessary resources, strengthen preventive measures, and implement proactive strategies to address the security concerns in Plateau State and other regions across the country.
“Ag. IGP Kayode Egbetokun, however, charged the good people of Plateau state to refrain from attaching religious or ethnic colourations to the criminals perpetrating heinous killings and crimes in the state as a criminal remains one irrespective of his religion or ethnicity, and such colourations could cause more harm to our peaceful coexistence and national unity”.
The visit to the state was his first since President Bola Tinubu appointed Egbetokun Acting IGP on June 19, 2023.
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