IGP Kayode Egbetokun

The Inspector General of Police (IGP), Kayode Egbetokun, arrived in Benue State on Monday amid renewed violence that has claimed over 160 lives in recent weeks.

Egbetokun’s visit follows a series of deadly attacks, mostly blamed on suspected herdsmen, who have unleashed havoc across multiple agrarian communities in the North Central state. The IGP is expected to meet with state officials, security stakeholders, and affected communities as part of urgent efforts to restore peace.

According to police sources, the IGP has deployed additional tactical units, including operatives from the Force Intelligence Bureau (FIB), the Police Mobile Force, and the Anti-Terrorism Squad, to reinforce existing operations on the ground.

Benue has long struggled with violent clashes between nomadic herders and farming communities, often linked to disputes over land, grazing rights, and ethnic tensions. However, the recent spate of violence—described by locals as “non-stop and more brutal”—has sparked renewed fears of a humanitarian crisis, with hundreds displaced from their homes.

President Bola Ahmed Tinubu, reacting to the latest killings on Sunday, expressed deep concern and ordered security agencies to act “decisively”.

“Enough is enough,” Tinubu said. “The latest news of wanton killings in Benue State is very depressing. We must not allow this bloodletting to continue unabated.”

The president directed security chiefs to implement immediate measures to bring lasting peace to the state, including the arrest and prosecution of all perpetrators, regardless of affiliation.

The IGP’s visit signals a heightened national response to the worsening security situation in one of Nigeria’s most critical food-producing regions.