The Inspector General of Police Usman Alkali and the Tiv Nation are on collision course over what the later claimed is a disparaging remark against Tiv race.

In a press release signed by President Tiv Youths Organisation (TYO), Terrence Kuanum, on Saturday and made available to newsmen in Makurdi, Kuanum said, “We therefore demand an immediate withdrawal of the careless comments from IGP Usman and a public apology to the Tiv nation who have been insulted by that infamous outing in Gombe”.

The statement by Benue Youths Forum read in part: “The Benue Youth Forum, BYF has read with utter disappointment, a statement in the Nation Newspaper of August 10, 2022 credited to the Inspector General of Police, Usman Alkali where he openly disparaged the entire Tiv nation over the misbehaviour of an individual.”

The IGP had in a parley with officers and men of the Nigerian Police in Gombe State made those demeaning remarks that the Tiv twice in two sentences without any mention of the tribes or ethnicity of the other were clearly disrespectful to the Tiv nation.

He was explaining why the Police High Command recently sacked three policemen, among whom was an Inspector of Police of Tiv origin who was serving in the Kogi State Command for various misdemeanours inimical to the image of the force and at different locations.

“It is curious that IGP Alkali mentioned two policemen that were also dismissed for unprofessional conduct.

“For the number one police officer in the country to make comments like “one Tiv man” and “look at how he was dressed like a Tiv warrior” while referring to the dismissed Police Inspector is tantamount to hatred and ethnic profiling, which shouldn’t be coming from someone who is expected to be neutral at all times.

“Many Police officers and men from different tribes have been found wanting in the discharge of their duties but at no time was their ethnic groups so disparaged. A recent case in point is the allegations against DCP Abba Kyari and his colleagues who are currently standing trial for drug related offences. Their tribes have not been an issue.

“Why the Benue Youth Forum will not support any act of criminality by any officer of the state as exhibited by the inglorious action of the dismissed police inspector which eventually cost him his job. We, on behalf of the entire Tiv nation, take exception to that blatant insult and overt spewing of vile towards the Tiv nation by the Inspector General of Police.

“We therefore condemn in totality, the attempt by the IGP to disparage the Tiv people and portray them in bad light.” (The Nation)

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