Senators disagree on nationality of killer herdsmen

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.