IG petitioned by Tsav over Benue Killings

The Public Complaints Commissioner, overseeing Benue State, Abubakar Tsav, has urged the Inspector-General of Police, Alhaji Ibrahim Idris, to intervene in halting the rising incidences of assassination in the state.

Tsav, a former Commissioner of Police in Lagos State, according to the News Agency of Nigeria, made the appeal in a letter he wrote to the IGP.

He recalled that seven high- profile assassination cases had been recorded in the state, in the last two years, regretting that none had been resolved.

He said, “Insecurity is on the rise in Benue; people are being killed, but none of the cases has been investigated. We want you to act quickly to check these killings.”

Tsav also made copies of his letter available to the Chief of Staff to the President, Abba Kyari, and the National Security Adviser, Maj.-Gen. Babagana Monguno (retd.).

In the six-page letter, Tsav listed victims of the assassinations to include elder statesman and politician, Mr. Atoza Hindan, who was killed in Katsina-Ala; Dr. Tondo, from University of Mkar, and Mr. Denen Iggana, who was Senior Special Assistant (Security) to Gov. Samuel Ortom.

Also killed, according to Tsav, were Dr. Tavershima Adyorough, Principal Special Assistant to the Governor on Knowledge Economy and Investment, and two traditional rulers in Katsina-Ala.

He said, “Benue people are worried about the killings, but they are afraid to say anything; they are afraid of being targeted for murder.

“Out of fear, even the Tiv Traditional Council has said nothing about the murder of the two chiefs. Everyone is quiet and in fear.

“Journalists are also living in fear. Some of them have been assaulted, arrested and detained for writing the truth. The Police must move in to restore public confidence so that people can enjoy the dividends of democracy.”

But reacting to Tsav’s letter, the Benue State Police Command said it was doing everything possible to stop the assassinations and also track down those involved.

The Police Public Relations Officer in the state, Mr. Moses Yamu, said, “It is not right for anyone to say that we are not investigating the killings. We cannot sweep such high-profile killings under the carpet.”

Source: ( Punch Newspaper  )