Some members of the Senate have said the killings by herdsmen across the country if left unchecked, would snowball into another security threat like the Boko Haram terrorist group.
The lawmakers, while debating a motion moved by Senator Clifford Ordia (Edo Central) titled ‘Motion on the Need to Curtail the Activities of the Fulani Herdsmen’, asked the Federal Government to step up action on the protection of lives and properties against the attacks by herdsmen.
Speaking on the motion, Senator Francis Alimikhena (Edo North) said criminal activities by herdsmen were spreading across the country.
He said, “These Fulani herdsmen (issue) is a problem; it is another Boko Haram that is rearing its head if not well nipped in the bud right now. It is very criminal for some people to start killing people, raping them, taking their possessions and they (criminals) go away with it,” he said.
Alimikhena noted that there were roads in Edo which were being avoided by people for fear of being attacked by herdsmen. He stressed that farms had also been abandoned by farmers due to the attacks on them.
He said, “They will rape to death and even kidnap their husbands. I don’t know where we are going. It is better for this Inspector General of Police to deploy his security operatives (in the area) instead of blowing the whistle that is not even fruitful and searching houses in which they will not find anything.
“These security operatives can be deployed to attack these Fulani herdsmen who are destroying our people. If this one is not well taken care of, it is another monster that will grow and destroy this country. The activities of these herdsmen – as it is in Edo State and other parts of the country now – are worrisome to every Nigerian.”
Leading the debate, Ordia said the Senate noted with serious concern “the heinous and criminal activities being perpetrated by Fulani herdsmen” who were allegedly “ravaging communities, depriving persons of right to life and prosperity; raping and defiling women and destroying farms’ crops among other criminal activities across the
country.”
country.”
Source:punch
