The inspector-general of police Ibrahim Idris has absolved Fulani herdsmen from blame in an attack on a market in Zaki-Biam, Benue State, which led to the death of about 50 persons.
Idris revealed after he briefed President Muhammadu Buhari on the attack and the recent crisis in Ile-Ife, Osun State.
The IGP said the killing was perpetrated by a criminal gang under the leadership of one Terwase Agwaza, aka Gana, a wanted criminal operating in Benue state.
“No, I don’t think its Fulani herdsmen, it was an activity of a criminal who is using some of his criminal gangs in the state to harass people, that I have assured the governor when I met with him a few days ago,” he said.
The Police boss vowed that the Special Police squad recently deployed to the area would soon track Gana whose stock in trade, he said, is to harass people and disrupt the peace in the state.
The IGP also dismissed the allegation of ethnic bias in the arrest made by the police following the recent crisis between Yorubas and the Hausas in Ile-Ife, saying that there was no iota of truth in the reports.
“We are police officers. Crime has no tribe. If you are a criminal you are a criminal. Crime has no face, we don’t look at crime in the identity of where you are coming from,” Idris said.
“As far as you are a criminal and the police finds you wanting we apply the law.
Idris said the police and other security agencies were working on the specific directive of the President to use the resources at their disposal to arrest criminality and other untoward developments in the country.
“I gave the President my assurance that we are going to do that, and make sure that some of these incidents we are talking about are brought under control,” the IGP said.
