Unease over herders’ attacks

The House of Representatives yesterday summoned the Director General of the Department of State Security (DSS) Lawal Daura as concerns mount over alleged herdsmen attacks in some parts of the country.
In Ilorin, the emir, Alhaji Ibrahim Sulu-Gambari, said that the crisis was a threat to national security, and that the perpetrators were non Nigerians.

The national association of Fulani herdsmen also denied yesterday that their members were behind the attacks.
The House resolution on the matter was sequel to a motion by Rep Chukwuemeka Ujam (PDP, Enugu) who said unknown herdsmen launched an attack on a rural community in Enugu state, in which many people were killed and property worth millions of naira destroyed.
 The motion asked Daura to appear before its committees on police affairs, national intelligence and public safety to explain the measures put in place by the DSS to contain and prevent further attacks by the alleged herdsmen.
The House also urged the Inspector-General of Police Solomon Arase to conduct an investigation into the crisis with a view to bringing the perpetrators to book.
Contributing, Rep Nkeiruka Onyejeocha (PDP, Abia), said “The gory tales of incessant attacks” by alleged herdsmen were gradually “assuming a frightening national security challenge.”
She said the Enugu killings called to question the effectiveness of intelligence gathering, proactive policing and combat readiness of Nigeria’s security formations.
However, Rep Aminu Shehu Shagari (APC, Sokoto) said as much as the herdsmen attacks were disturbing,   most of the attackers were not Nigerian Fulani herdsmen.
“The situation we’re having is that some foreigners invaded the whole of the country. Those Fulani you see are not Nigerians. The Nigerian Fulani are very peaceful.
“What we’re witnessing is due to the porous nature of the Nigerian borders. I want to call on security agencies to strengthen their work at the borders,” he said.
Crisis threat to national security - Emir
The Emir of Ilorin, while speaking during the visit of the vice president, Professor Yemi Osinbajo, to his palace warned that the crisis was a threat to the existence of Nigeria as an entity.
He noted that the government should be more serious in dealing with the incessant attacks.
The Emir, said the herdsmen were not Nigerians, adding that they are migrating herdsmen from other parts of Africa.
“People get it wrong when they describe the rampaging and destructive herdsmen as Fulani herdsmen. They are not Fulani. They are wandering and migrating tribe of people going everywhere,” he said.  
Alhaji Sulu-Gambari, who thanked God for the victory that brought the APC into power and the achievements recorded by the President Muhammadu Buhari’s administration, told the vice president that much was still being expected of the administration by the people.
The vice president, who commended the people of the state for the support given during the last general elections, said the government was determined to better the lives of all Nigerians.
Gov weeps over invasion as NBA knocks
Enugu State Governor, Chief Ifeanyi Ugwuanyi, wept openly yesterday when he saw the body of one Ugwu Ogbu, a teacher posted from Enugu Ezike in Igboeze North LGA of the state to Nimbo community where he  killed in Monday’s attack on the community by people suspected to be herdsmen.
He urged the people of the state to pray for God’s intervention in the clashes between herdsmen and villagers, even as he declared two days of fasting and prayers over the invasions.
Ugwuanyi donated N5million to people of the area for immediate relief as all economic activities were totally disrupted.
The governor also visited the traditional ruler of Nimbo community, Chief John Akor and assured   the people that efforts were being made to find a lasting solution to the problem. He appealed to the people, especially the youth, not to take the law into their hands by engaging in any form of reprisal.
A community leader, Dr Ajokwu George, appealed to the state government to come to their aid as the community had become a hunting ground for the herders.
“Our community is under threat; we have been burying our loved ones. We are more worried because in this case, we even alerted security agencies that these people were planning to attack us but nothing was done,” he said.  
- Archbishop calls for quick action
The Archbishop of Enugu Diocese, Anglican Communion, Dr. Emmanuel Chukwuma, has warned that the frequent attacks across Nigeria by gunmen suspected to be herdsmen, had the potential to cause another civil war if not handled urgently,
Archbishop Chukwuma called on President Muhammadu Buhari to act quickly to tame the herdsmen.
He said: “One is wondering therefore what the federal government is doing about these Fulani herdsmen that have become a menace in the whole country.
“We totally condemn this act; it is condemned, unacceptable and we say the federal government must speak and do something about it or else, this is calling and breeding for civil war,” the cleric said.
He spoke at a press conference in Enugu yesterday while reacting to the attack on Nimbo community  in which about 15 people were said to have been killed, houses and two churches destroyed.
Archbishop Chukwuma also appealed to the governors of the five states in the south-east zone to quickly rise to the occasion by finding a lasting solution before the situation becomes uncontrollable.