Killings: What IG of Police, Benue, Nasarawa Governments said in Abuja meeting

The Inspector-General of Police (I-G), Ibrahim Idris has called on
Benue and Nasarawa state indigenes to live in peace and tranquility.

Idris spoke at a reconciliatory meeting between the two states on
Tuesday in Abuja.

He said that a lot of efforts and progress had been made to resolve
the crisis between the two states that had lived in peace before now.

The police boss said that the meeting was not an avenue for anyone to
apportion blame but to proffer solutions to the problem at hand.

"I want us to conduct this meeting as a sort of reconciliation; we are
not here to apportion blame during our discussion.

"I want all comments and observations at this meeting to be geared
toward peace and reconciliation between the two states.

"The information I am getting from my DIG in charge of operations in
Benue, it seems the situation is returning to normal.

"I want to thank the governors of Benue and Nasarawa for the efforts
they have shown toward the return of normalcy in the states," he said.

Governor Samuel Ortom, who was represented by his deputy, Mr Benson
Abounu, said the state cannot afford to have peace not founded on
Justice and equity.

"We have come here with good intention, sincerity of purpose. We are
here to rub minds with our brothers from Nasarawa.

"Benue is 100 per cent for peace and will do everything possible to
ensure that the current crisis was brought to an end permanently.

"We need peace, we must developed a strong united country, then we
must have peace founded on justice, equality and security," he said.

Gov. Tanko Al-Makura represented by the Senior Special Adviser,
retired Brig.-Gen. Mohammed Umar, said they were at the meeting to
resolve their differences.

Al-Makura, who said that the state was not against the Open Grazing in
Benue, said that his state experienced a ripple effect of the attacks
on Benue.

"We are not against the open grazing law in Benue," he said.

The governor said that the people of the states were not at war but
only had some misunderstandings which would be amicably resolved
through dialogue.