The Acting Inspector General of Police, (IGP) Kayode Egbetokun, has said the killings in Plateau State have persisted due to the attachment of religious or ethnic colourations to criminals perpetrating the crimes.
According to a statement on Thursday by the Force Public Relations Officer, CSP Olumuyiwa Adejobi, the IGP stated this on Wednesday when he embarked on a critical duty tour to assess and address the prevailing security challenges in some parts of Plateau State.
The police boss said such colourations of the killings in the North Central state could cause more harm to peaceful coexistence and national unity.
Adejobi said during the tour, Egbetokun had a crucial meeting with the Plateau State Governor, Caleb Muftwang, at the State House, where they extensively discussed the security situation in the state, analyzed its complexities and explored strategic solutions.
He added that the police boss convened a gathering with the Plateau Stakeholders Forum at the Police Officers Mess in Jos, and visited Mangu Local Government Area of the state, where he engaged with the local community and police operatives on the ground to find a lasting solution to the killings in the area.
He said: “Similarly, the IGP proceeded to Mangu Local Government Area of the state, the epicentre of the immediate security challenge, where he actively engaged with the local community and police operatives on the ground to corroborate intelligence received on the situation.
“The interaction provided a platform for open dialogue and enabled the IGP to assess the state of affairs, gather valuable insights, and reinforced the commitment of the Police to addressing the security challenges faced by the people of Mangu and restoring peace and order in the area.
“The Inspector-General of Police, therefore, emphasized the need for improved preventive deployments, effective intelligence gathering, and community engagements to proactively address the security concerns in Mangu.
“The IGP while reaffirming the commitment of the NPF to protect lives and property, and restore peace and harmony in the area, reiterated the NPF’s resoluteness in its determination to deploy necessary resources, strengthen preventive measures, and implement proactive strategies to address the security concerns in Plateau State and other regions across the country.
“Ag. IGP Kayode Egbetokun, however, charged the good people of Plateau state to refrain from attaching religious or ethnic colourations to the criminals perpetrating heinous killings and crimes in the state as a criminal remains one irrespective of his religion or ethnicity, and such colourations could cause more harm to our peaceful coexistence and national unity”.
