The Senate has finally reacted to the menace of criminal herdsmen, with the upper legislative chamber mandating President Muhammadu Buhari to issue an executive order. During a plenary on Wednesday, February 10, 106 senators decried the pervasive insecurity especially the heinous activities of herders.
Ajayi Borofice, deputy Senate leader, led the senators in a motion compelling President Buhari to issue executive order to flush out criminals and ban open grazing. The lawmakers also told the president to issue an executive order that will flush out the criminal herders from the forest reserves, Nigerian Tribune reports.
On his own, the senator representing Kogi West Smart Adeyemi urged the federal government to seek help from foreign countries in order to fight the atrocities of the bandits, insurgents and other criminal elements in the country. He said: “With the rate at which the security situation is going in the country, it will not be out of place for Federal Government to look for foreign support if we can no longer maintain law and order. This is where international support to fight the security challenges comes in.” Other senators who spoke are Adamu Abdullahi (Nasarawa West), Senate minority leader Enyinnaya Abaribe who submitted that all hands must be on deck in the fight against insecurity.
In a stark warning to criminals, Governor Godwin Obaseki has vowed that his administration will treat bandits who disguise as herders to perpetrate crime in the state as criminals. The Edo state governor disclosed this during a fact-finding mission to Odighi community in Uhiere ward of Ovia-North East local government area over the clashes between herders and farmers.
Going further, he promised that his administration will collaborate with relevant security agencies and vigilante groups to clear the criminal elements from the area. Recall that Legit.ng had reported that the presidency again revealed its position on the activities of criminals who pose as herdsmen around the country, especially in southwest Nigeria. Femi Adesina, a presidential media aide to President Muhammadu Buhari, said there is zero-tolerance for violence and terrorism. Adesina said President Buhari’s stand on the issue of persons considered as killer herdsmen is that anyone found with illegal arms should be arrested and tried. Also, Vice president Yemi Osinbajo on Tuesday, February 9, said Nigeria has set wheels on move in the fight against insurgency with the newly appointed service chiefs.
