FG Should Probe Sources Of Arms Used By Herdsmen – Sultan

The Sultan of Sokoto, Alhaji Saad Abubakar, has asked the Federal Government to probe the sources of weapons used by herdsmen accused of attacking Nigerian communities.

This is contained in his Eid-el Fitr message delivered on Sunday in Sokoto.

“Real herdsmen do not carry guns; they only move with their cows and sticks”, he said.

“There could be bad eggs among the Fulani, but those carrying arms and perpetrating heinous killings are not herdsmen.

“Those carrying arms are criminals and should be treated as such.

“Government should probe the sources of these weapons and take appropriate action so as to minimise these attacks”.

Abubakar hailed measures aimed at combating insurgency in the north-east, and cautioned against complacency as the problem was not over.

The revered monarch urged Muslims to reflect on, and uphold the virtues of the Ramadan fast that included patience, perseverance and brotherliness.

Meanwhile, retired Deputy Inspector General of Police (DIG), Udom Ekpoudom, has lamented the audacity of Fulani herdsmen and how they conduct themselves in other people’s territory.

He said their activities across the country totally violate the constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria.

By Wale Odunsi

SE Herdsmen Reject Quit Notice To Igbos, Insist They Feel At Home In The SE

The leadership of cattle breeders in the South East, under the aegis of Miyetti Allah Cattle Breeders Association of Nigeria, MACBAN, has dissociated itself from the recent quit notice given to Igbos living in the north by the coalition of Arewa youths.

In a statement by the group’s chairman, Alhaji Siddiki Gidado, in Awka, Anambra state yesterday, MACBAN demanded that those behind such act should be brought to book.

The group pointed out that although they were not comfortable with the agitations of Indigenous People of Biafra, IPOB, and MASSOB, it does not support call for Ndigbo to leave the north.

According to the statement, “We condemn in its entirety the aspect of the Arewa Youths communiqué that insists that Igbos should leave North; this position is unacceptable to us in the South-east because we feel at home in this zone.

“It is worrisome that some people who are safely seated in their comfort zones seem to care less about the safety of many of their kiths and kin at the other sides of the divide as they make statements or engage in acts that can cause mayhem.

“We advice that both Arewa group and Biafra agitators should sheath their swords and seek better ways of making Nigeria a better place for all of us.”

By John Owen Nwachukwu

Herdsmen Not Occupying LGA in Benue – Ortom’s Aide

Special Assistant to Benue State Governor on Fulani Matters, Garus Gololo, has faulted a statement credited to his boss, Samuel Ortom, that Fulani herdsmen have occupied 12 local governments in the state.

Ortom, was quoted as making the statement while hosting the National President of the Christian Association of Nigeria, Samson Ayokunle, on Friday.

A statement by the Special Assistant to the CAN President, Adebayo Oladeji, claimed Ortom told his guests that 12 Benue LGAs were under the siege of Fulani herdsmen.

However, Gololo told journalists in Makurdi on Saturday that the comment attributed to Ortom was untrue.

Gololo said Fulani herdsmen never forcefully occupied any area in the state, but stayed peacefully with their hosts in seven local governments.

He said, “I disagree with the statement I read in some national dailies that Fulani have taken over 12 local government areas of the state. I can authoritatively inform you that as of today, herdsmen are staying in seven council areas of the state peacefully with farmers and their host communities.

“The seven council areas where our men are staying and grazing their cows are Agatu, Guma, Makurdi, Logo, Ohimini, Oju and Otukpo. The Fulani live in harmony with their hosts without any problem.”

Speaking on the anti-grazing bill recently passed into law by the Benue State House of Assembly, the special adviser said: “I don’t even know what the bill is all about. All I know is that the state has no power to create grazing reserves, except for the Federal Government, because we are all Nigerians and the constitution of Nigeria permits freedom of movement. Nobody should try to restrict the movement of another.”

By Ameh Comrade Godwin

JUST IN: Benue Ban Open Grazing, Stipulates 5-year-jail Term, N1m Fine for Offenders

The Benue State House of Assembly on Thursday successfully passed the bill prohibiting Open Rearing and Grazing into law.

The house had on Tuesday received the report of its Committee on Agriculture and Natural Resources on the bill to prohibit Open grazing in the State.

The report was presented by the Chairman of the Committee, Mr. James Gbande.

A perusal of the report shows that the title of the bill was changed from Livestock Promotion, Development and Regulatory Agency establishment bill, to a bill to prohibiting Open Rearing and Grazing of Livestock and provide for the establishment of Ranches and Livestock administration, regulation and control, in line with the feelings of Benue people.

The lawmakers, who debated upon the bill on Thursday, agreed that the development would henceforth end the protracted war between Benue farmers and herdsmen.

The house subsequently stipulated that any herder found violating the law would be sentenced to five years imprisonment and as well pay a fine of N1m.

According to the house, “Nobody will be permitted to carry out open grazing outside the permitted ranches.

“Any person who contravenes this act shall be guilty and upon conviction be sentenced to 5 years imprisonment with a fine of 1 million.

“Where damage is done to crops, the farm will be evaluated and the manager of the livestock be compelled to pay.

“Movement of livestock on foot within the state is hereby prohibited. Any person who contravenes this shall be sentenced to one year imprisonment or pay a fine of N500,00

“Any livestock owner or manager who carries firearms shall be treated under the penal code. All ranchers shall engage the services of security agencies.

“Any person who rustles cattle shall be sentenced to 5 years imprisonment or pay a fine of N100,000 per cow. Any livestock wandering shall be impounded by the department of livestock.

“Any livestock impounded and the owner not found shall be auctioned to the public and the proceeds be deposited into the state consolidated revenue account.

“They shall be established, a special open prohibition TAX FORCE that will enforce this laws as stipulated.”

By Ameh Comrade Godwin

13 Killed By Herdsmen, In Southern Kaduna

Suspected herdsmen at the weekend attacked Asso Village in Kagoma Chiefdom of Jama’a local government area, part of the troubled the southern part of Kaduna state, killing about 13 persons.

Sources in the Village who alerted newsmen to the incidence alleged that the killings took place at about 7:30 pm on Saturday when numerous armed herdsmen invaded the community and started shooting sporadically.

 Governor Nasir El Rufai while condemning the incidence in his reaction also vowed that perpetrators of the heinous crime would be hunted and brought to justice. Narrating his experience, one of the residents of the village who spoke with journalists said in the process of trying to run away from the rampaging herdsmen, several sustained injuries from gunshots and have been admitted to the hospital.

 He said while the attack lasted, no assistance came from the security personnel who had been stationed in that part of the state since last year December.

 In a statement issued in Kaduna and signed by the Spokesman of the governor, Samuel Aruwan he said the “Governor charged security agencies to redouble their efforts in fishing out those behind the killings, and to act promptly on carefully vetted intelligence”

Ben Agande