Heads of security agencies in Benue and Nasarawa states met on Thursday in Lafia to strategise on how to end ongoing carnage in line with the directive by President Muhammadu Buhari.

Deputy Inspector-General of Police Operations, Joshak Habila, told newsmen in Lafia that the meeting was for security agencies to synergise toward ending incessant killings in parts of some states and elsewhere in the coybtry.

Habila said far-reaching decisions were taken to ensure robust security for the people of the areas, adding that criminals who engaged in taking the lives of citizens would be brought to justice.

He added that “based on the directives from presidency to security agencies to halt the killings and ensure that it does not repeat, we are assessing the area as appropriate actions to be taken have been discussed.

“I can assure you that perpetrators of these heinous crimes would be brought to justice no matter how highly placed.”

Among security chiefs at the meeting wertr the Commissioner of Police in Nasarawa, Ahmed Bello and his Benue counterpart, Bashir Makama.

Others were Col. Mohammed Inuwa, Commander of the 72 Military Special Force; Commandants of the Nigeria Security and Civil Defense Corps (NSCDC) in Nasarawa and Benue, Mohammed Mahmoud-Fari and Jibril Shuaibu.

Also in attendance were directors of State Security Services from both states.

Unknown men attacked communities in Guma and Logo local government areas of Benue on Jan. 2, killing 20 persons and injuring over 30 others.

The development led to mass protest in Makurdi, the Benue capital on Wednesday, which purportedly turned violent.

Meanwhile, most residents of Awe and Keana local government areas of Nasarawa State had fled their homes and taking refuge in schools for fear of attack, as there were unconfirmed reports of other killings in the areas.

Also, Nigeria Union of Journalists (NUJ), Benue Council, has called on the Federal Government to urgently deploy security men in Benue to stop the incessant killings by suspected herdsmen.

The union’s Chairman and Assistant Secretary, Kris Atsaka and Grace Okpe respectively, made the call in a statement in Makurdi on Thursday.

The union appealed to President Muhammadu Buhari to order investigation into the alleged shooting of unarmed protesters in Makurdi on Wednesday by security men.

The union stated that the immediate intervention of the president in the matter would halt the carnage and restore confidence of Benue people in the government.

It commended the concerted efforts made by Gov. Samuel Ortom of Benue and his cabinet in handling the issue with utmost concern to avert further escalation of the situation.

While praising the state government for the Anti-Open Grazing Bill passed and signed into law on May 22, 2017, it urged the people to adhere strictly to the dictates of the law to avoid skirmishes.

The union also sympathised with the families who lost their loved ones in the unwarranted and unfortunate attacks and sued for peace.