The Inspector General of Police (IGP), Solomon Arase, has described reports that over 500 people were killed in Agatu community of Benue state by Fulani herdsmen.

The IGP, at the investigative hearing organised by the House of Representatives committee on the killings in Benue State claimed that 3 people and not 500 died from the clash between the herdsmen and farmers of the community.

The Nigeria Security and Civil Defence Corps had stated that over 300 people were killed by the herdsmen while the people of the community insisted that the number of fatalities was over 500.

According to Daily Post, in a new twist however, the IGP, who when he visited the state had declared that he did not see 300 graves, told the Senate committee that only 3 people were killed and even though 18 people had been arrested in connection with the murders, the police did not have enough evidence to prosecute them by law.

He further said he would not be able to reveal all that he was doing to resolve the herdsmen crisis as they were classified information but he did say thaat all the parties involved in the crisis have been reached out to in a bid to achieve peace.

He said that lack of funds, shortage of personnel, logistics and technology served as deterrents to the efforts of the police to quell the crisis.

“We have apprehended some persons, may be investigation is rather slow. You must be able to assemble sufficient evidence to prosecute them. I don’t just want to prosecute people without securing conviction,” Arase stated.

He urged people to be patient with them, saying, “It is not as if we are not doing anything.”

Adebayo Emuleomo