The Benue State Commissioner of Police Mr Ene Okon has raised the alarm that politicians in the state are arming thugs ahead of 2019 elections.

Okon dropped the hint when the leaders of Benue socio-cultural group in the state paid him a courtesy call.Benue police boss who said that the command was aware of the proliferation of arms into the state advised the leaders of the groups to go back and tell the political class that it would be better to have a peaceful election in the state rather than stockpile weapons.

According to him, ‘the intelligence we have gathered so far clearly indicated that politicians are proliferating arms among thugs to maim and kill.’

“It baffles me that they have resorted to arming thugs to harass opponents, it is indeed a worrisome development and it is unacceptable to my command.

“But I have words for the masterminds of this act, I will go after the thugs and their principals. I am not begging them to stop but I am warning. It is either they retrieve those weapons from their thugs and hand same to the Police or we will go after the thugs and their sponsors.

“I also appeal to you the tribal leaders to go back home to your communities and talk to parents and their children especially the thugs who have decided to become cannon fodders in our society.

“We are also worried because after the elections these weapons are used for robbery and kidnap of innocent citizens so we will crack down on those behind the dastardly act.

Earlier a spokesman for the group and President General of Mdzough U Tiv, Chief Edward Ujege applauded the command for the way it handled the insecurity situation in the state.

“Particularly, the invasion, killings, destruction of property and displacement of our people by militant herdsmen.

“It is regrettable that this command and indeed the Police in Nigeria lost officers and men who put their lives on the line for us to enjoy relative peace as they worked day and night.

“You have played major roles, alongside your sister security agencies for us to experience the peace that we currently enjoy and we cannot thank you enough.

“We hope that in the coming elections politicians will play the game by the rules and it is our hope that the Police and other security agencies will conduct themselves in the highest professional manner that would further enhance their image and give the people confidence,” Ujege said.

•Text (excluding headline) sourced Tribune report

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