President Muhammadu Buhari yesterday ordered the Chief of Defence Staff, Major General Abayomi Olonishakin and the Inspector General of Police, Solomon Arase, to go after the herdsmen who are killing people in several parts of the country.
The Senior Special Assistant to the President on Media and Publicity, Malam Garba Shehu, said in a statement yesterday that Buhari, while giving the directive, urged all Nigerians to remain calm.
The president also assured of his administration’s readiness to deploy all required personnel and resources to remove this new threat to the collective security of the nation.
Shehu said following continuing reports of those attacks, particularly Monday’s attack at Ukpabi Nimbo in Enugu State, Buhari reassured all Nigerians of his government’s commitment to ensuring the safety of lives and property in all parts of Nigeria.
The presidential spokesman said Buhari unreservedly condemned the attack on Ukpabi Nimbo and other such acts of extreme violence in other states of the federation.
He said the Inspector-General of Police and heads of other security agencies, acting on the president’s directive, were already taking urgent steps to fully investigate the attacks, apprehend the perpetrators and bring them to justice.
According to him, ending the recent upsurge of attacks on communities by herdsmen reportedly armed with sophisticated weapons is now a priority on Buhari administration’s agenda for enhanced national security.
“The armed forces and police have clear instructions to take all necessary actions to stop the carnage,” Shehu said.
He said in keeping with Buhari’s directive, the Inspector-General of Police, the General Officer Commanding the 82nd Division of the Nigerian Army and the Director of the Department of State Security in Enugu State had visited Ukapbi Nimbo to personally oversee investigations into the attack on the community and ongoing efforts to apprehend the culprits.
He said Buhari was scheduled to meet with Governor Ifeanyi Ugwuanyi later yesterday to receive further details on the attack and discuss additional measures to forestall similar attacks and restore public confidence.
The president’s directive was also re-echoed at a public presentation of the book: “Who will Love my Country: Ideas for Building the Nigeria of Our dreams,” authored by the Deputy President of the Senate, Senator Ike Ekweremadu, also asked the security Chiefs to secure areas where the killer herders are operating.
Represented by the Minister of Information, Alhaji Lai Mohammed, the president said the government would not allow the attacks to continue.
He said the 2016 budget was designed to bring Nigerians out of poverty.
He commended Ekweremadu, for investing his time and energy to write the book, “which is a wake up call and thought provoking.”
In his remarks, Former Head of State, retired Gen. Yakubu Gowon, condemned the herders’ attacks, saying, “Definitely neither insurgency nor herdsmen’s menace will divide us because with the help of God, cooperation of the citizenry and the gallant security forces, we shall soon conquer.
“Many years back we fought a war to remain a united, indivisible nation, this was because we believed and still believe that what binds us together is far greater than what divides us. There is no denying the fact that Nigeria is stronger together and that the future remains very bright. Let us continue to move together as one,” he said.
The Emir of Kano, Muhammad Sanusi II, said corruption remained the obstacle to the socio-economic development of the country. The emir who was represented by the Magajin Garin Kano, Alhaji Nasir Inuwa Wada said all previous efforts to fight corruption lacked political will.
Earlier in his address, Ekweremadu had urged Nigerian leaders to govern effectively and use power wisely, saying that was the only way to safeguard the citizens’ interest. (Daily Trust)
