Ebun Francis || Ibrahim Idris, the Inspector General of Police on Friday before the Senate Committee on Police, argued for the suspension of the anti-open grazing laws passed by some states as a way to end deadly clashes between herders and farmers.
According to the IGP, the cause of the crisis was the anti-open grazing law.
At the closed-door sessions with members of the committee, the IG also informed the select Senators that the presence of small armed militia groups is making it difficult for the police to restore peace to Benue state.
A source at the meeting who briefed newsmen on condition that he will not be unmasked said, “He asked for stoppage of implementation of the law until ranches are provided, then the law can be gradually implemented again. He also asked for further equipping and funding for police to assist their work in the area and across the country.”
The source further added, “He said that about 140 people have been arrested so far and most of them have been charged to court for prosecution. And he said that investigations are still ongoing for those who are yet to be charged to court.”
It will be recalled that following the January 1 killing of over seventy people in Benue state by suspected Fulani herdsmen, the Senate gave the police boss a 14-day ultimatum to arrest and prosecute the perpetrators of the killings.
The Senate on Wednesday again summoned the IGP as a result of his inability to make the arrests as well as give updates on the issue.
Mr. Idris was in the Senate on Friday to respond to the summons.