The military and the police on Sunday deployed air surveillance over Makurdi, Benue State, and its environs, following Saturday’s killings in Yelwata and Daudu communities in Guma Local Government Area of the state.
According to one of our correspondents, the surveillance aircraft has been hovering over the capital city and nearby local government areas such as Guma and Gwer West since Sunday morning.
A military officer, who spoke on the condition of anonymity because he was not permitted to comment on the subject, stated that the air surveillance was to monitor the situation in Makurdi and its surroundings.
“The air surveillance is to monitor the situation of things around Makurdi and its environs, so we will know how to tackle it swiftly.
“The residents should not panic; the military is on top of the situation,” the military officer said.
This comes as Mr Kayode Egbetokun, the Inspector General of Police, takes over the state’s security.
Terrorists reportedly killed 100 people and injured many more when they raided the towns on Saturday.
Following the killings, some demonstrators gathered on Sunday at the Wurukum Roundabout in Makurdi, clutching leaves, and urged the Federal Government to safeguard all persons under its jurisdiction.
Speaking on their behalf, Brahms Ikuan and Gideon Inyom condemned the state’s ongoing killings, claiming that the authorities did little to safeguard the people.
The police had to use tear gas to disperse them when they refused to allow the Deputy Governor, Sam Ode, and the Commissioner of Police, Emenari Ifeanyi, to address them.
Speaking with journalists, Ifeanyi said, “The IG has taken over the security of Benue State.
“As I speak to you now, the IG has already sent special forces who are already on the ground, and more are coming.
“All the Special Forces are intelligence forces; they will go to where the bandits are and get them.
“The ones you see here on the ground just arrived last night. The previous sets have been deployed to Naka, Apa, Agatu, Daudu and Yelewata. We are in control of the situation, so I’m assuring all citizens of the state that we are in control.”
The police commissioner indicated that what occurred on Saturday in Yelwata was caused by the deployment of police officers to the problematic Apa and Gwer West local government areas.
He added, “What happened in Yelwata yesterday is because we have taken over Apa, Gwer West, and are moving seriously in Agatu.
“They just want to do something to show that they are in control while they are not and will never be.
“Whatever is paining you is paining us more. We are here to protect lives and property. We have security everywhere now; even in Yelwata, there are tactical teams in the bush even before the attack.”
The CP stated that the security agencies already had the intelligence reports on the movement of the gunmen, adding that the results would justify their efforts.
“Give the special forces and tactical teams a room to work. If you prolong your stay here, you are giving the enemies more time to plan.
“We have intelligence reports of their movement, and we are blocking them, and you will see the result,” the police boss told the protesters. “
