Plateau Killings: We Will Surprise Those Responsible – IGP Egbetokun
The Inspector General of Police, Kayode Egbetokun, has vowed that those behind the recent massacre in Plateau State will face justice, assuring that the security forces will deliver a decisive response to the violence. Egbetokun gave the assurance on Tuesday during his visit to Plateau State, following the killing of 51 residents in the Zikke community of Bassa Local Government Area. The attack, which occurred early Monday, also left many displaced and homes destroyed, just two weeks after a similar incident in Bokkos LGA that claimed dozens of lives. Condemning the killings in strong terms, the IGP emphasized the gravity of the situation and its impact on farming communities in the state. “We condemn in the strongest possible terms these acts of violence. We recognize the severity of the incident and its negative impact on the local farming communities in Plateau State,” he said. While refraining from disclosing specific operational plans, Egbetokun promised that the perpetrators would soon face the full force of the law. “I don’t want to say much on this, but I would say that this criminal element will soon be surprised because I know that their days are numbered,” he stated. The police chief also urged residents to refrain from profiling criminals based on ethnicity, stressing that crime must not be seen through a tribal lens. “Criminals don’t have tribes. They are just criminals,” he said. “Let us work together to ensure that the criminals in our midst are dealt with as criminals and not on the basis of where they come from.” The IGP’s visit marks his third official trip to Plateau State, underscoring the federal government’s growing concern over the resurgence of violence in the region.