Nigerian Senators on Thursday argued about the nationality of menacing herdsmen allegedly killing in many states, with many lawmakers dismissing claims that they are from neighbouring countries and are not Nigerians.
The senators were considering a motion on the recent attack on a community in Enugu where dozens were killed.
The Chief Whip of the Nigerian Senate, Olusola Adeyeye, has called for a restructuring of the country’s federalism to allow decentralised police system as a way of tackling the ongoing herdsmen violence.
Mr. Adeyeye, an All Progressives Congress Senator from Osun State, said local and state governments should have police force independent of the federally controlled force “issuing orders from Abuja”.
This was part of the Senator’s contribution to debate that followed a motion by Chukwuka Utazi (PDP-Enugu North) on recent killings by suspected herdsmen.
Parts of Mr. Utazi’s constituency was attacked on Monday allegedly by Fulani herdsmen, resulting in deaths of citizens and destruction of properties.
Mr. Adedeye said local governments need to become “actual government in its own rights and not appendages of state government to do its local work”.
Also speaking, Isa Misau (APC-Bauchi State) said the rampaging herdsmen were not Fulani as they came from neighbouring countries “to attack soft targets”.
But the Senate Leader, Ali Ndume, said he could not believe the herdsmen were from Mali, adding that the Nigerian Government has a responsibility to ensure security and welfare of citizens.
He said the country had to take “serious and major” steps towards solving these “senseless killings”.
Adding to the debate, Ben Bruce, from Bayelsa State, expressed fear that there could be reprisals, warning against a time when things could go “awry and out of control”.
As a panacea to the herdsmen-famers clash, Emmanuel Paulker, from Delta State, encouraged the creation of ranches.
“Those who own cattle should have their own ranches,” Mr. Paulker said.
The Minority Leader, Godswill Akpabio, representing Akwa Ibom, disputed the claim the rampaging herdsmen are from neighbouring countries, such as Mali and Niger.
Dismissing the claim as “political statement,” Mr. Akpabio said “95 per cent of them are Nigerians”.
Harping on Mr. Adeyeye’s point, he called for empowerment local vigilante groups.
In its resolutions, the Senate condoled with Enugu State and observed one-minute silence in honour of citizens killed.
The Senate resolved to send a delegation to be led by Mr. Ndume to console with the people and make on-the-spot assessment.
It also asked the Police to take urgent step to bring the culprits to book.
Additionally, it said its relevant Committees would meet to find lasting solutions to the crisis.
Rubbish, let them cordone the area, since they were in their hundreds in Enugu, it will be difficult to blend in with locals to hide. So let them start an air and land surveillance if they are even interested in apprehending the culprits.
ReplyDeleteTrash! No action, no mobilisation, nothing !! We will...., we plan to... etc. TRASH !!
ReplyDeleteMy only question is why must all killers come from northern Nigeria?what joy can a humanbeing derive from killing fellow men.this is senseless and inhunan.northerners again before book haram now is herdsmen
ReplyDeleteMy only question is why must all killers come from northern Nigeria?what joy can a humanbeing derive from killing fellow men.this is senseless and inhunan.northerners again before book haram now is herdsmen
ReplyDeleteIdiots!!!are there not killers from the east,south south or the south west? Siddon there they tribalise this.Arm yourselves and send this bastards in body bags and watch them leave u alone.They have succeeded in putting fear in your communities heart.Be barbaric and unrelentless with them,and watch them leave u alone.Deal with the lunatics but do not tribalise this.Pls do not wait for the police,they had first hand knowledge when they were gathering in nasarawa and yet,didn't come to your aide.arm yourself and send d bodies with d cows to whatever hell,country they came from.IF you are waiting for the police,then maybe u deserve to die.Print your obituaries then
ReplyDeleteImagine the contribution of common sense senator? Was there any sense in it? While his colleagues are proffering solutions and condemning the act, our Oyinbo dey just talks about eye for eye, ear for ear only
ReplyDeleteOne senator's purpose of going to the senate was defeated when Buhari emerged president. All his contributions are out of point. That is on the day he even speaks on the floor. What a common sense.
ReplyDeleteThere is no coherence in what these people are saying. Independent police on local government level (even where such thing exists only on paper) and nationality of attackers are not related issues and are far from the problem. Only the suggestion of ranching seems logical and worthy of consideration.
ReplyDelete