The Inspector-general of police, Ibrahim-Idris, has ordered the immediate deployment of additional investigative teams to Benue and Rivers state.
He gave the order less than 24 hours after holding a meeting with President Muhammadu Buhari at the presidential villa in Abuja.
Idris had told state house correspondents that the president asked the police to beef up security across the country.
In a statement on Saturday, Jimoh Moshood, Force Public Relations Officer, said the IGP also ordered Supervising Assistant Inspectors-General of Police and their personnel to be on red-alert with immediate effect to nip in the bud and prevent further attacks on innocent Nigerians by suspected herdsmen and other “criminal elements” in the affected states.
At least six states have recorded various acts of violence in the first week of 2018.
