Police, Edo Communities Move to tame Fulani herdsmen

With the recent nefarious activities allegedly perpetuated by the Fulani herdsmen, the Edo state Police Command and Communities across the state have moved to tame the nomads.

 

Traditional rulers and stakeholders across the state were invited by the Police Commissioner, Mr Gwandu Haliru for a crucial fact-finding meeting to ascertain the activities of the Fulani herdsmen in their various areas.

Mr Gwandu who said partnership with the grassroot stakeholders was a perfect way to put an end to Fulani herdsmen menace and lamented that the fight has severally been disrupted by some traditional rulers who drum support for the nomads after collecting royalty for them.

He noted that some Fulani herdsmen are even been protected by the traditional rulers, this he said investigation has revealed.

“I have intelligent report that there are some paramount rulers who take royalty and allow the Fulani herdsmen to reside and some of them even reside close to the palace and even inside the palace”.

The Commissioner of Police who has vowed not to play to the gallery no matter whose ox is god said he would not hesitate to punish any officer who has been found wanting in the discharge of his duties.

Particularly, Mr Haliru said, “My advocacy is very clear; you don’t have to be corrupt in the job. Corrupt officers under my watch have no hiding place”.




However, he further noted that the communities should be preaching the law of the land to the people as it will be a way to take them off crime knowing the consequences.

He called on members of the public to provide information on forest and bushes suspected to be haven for notorious fulani herdsmen and other criminal elements in their domains and enjoined them to report suspicious movement of goods and humans to the police for prompt and proactive interception.

Amongst those who spoke at the gathering are the representative of Otaru of Auchi Alhaji Usman Abuda, Chief Raymond Okpai and Chief Sunday Omonua of Ekpoma Kingdom.

Speaking at the meeting, the Onojie of Ekpoma who was represented by the Elder Sunday Omonua commended the commissioner of Police for his strict fight against criminality in the state and noted that the incessant killing of the Fulani herdsmen has greatly reduced.

The Okpekpe Vigilante group leaders, Mr Samson Asedokhae said the herdsmen in their usual character are fond of harassing farmers when it is time for harvest saying the result is fear and poor harvest.

He lamented that while the herdsmen go around with assorted weapons, the vigilante groups are left with local weapons that can’t be equated.

Also, Gwandu commended them for the partnership with the police as it had further enhanced security of lives and property in the state.

The police boss expressed confidence in the collaboration even as he advised against the recruitment of misguided elements as members of vigilante and hunters.

The Commissioner noted that the Fulani herdsmen that mostly cause the problems in the community are those who migrated from the Northern part and have been polluted and engages in cattle rustling.

He said that there are some other herdsmen who moved from other states in the Southern part of Nigeria who also commit atrocities as those from the North. But he said the government has put plans in place to ensure that the tide of Fulani herdsmen is tame.

He said there is a radical template to engage all stakeholders in a joint operation so that “Soon we will flush these elements and you will leave in peace”.

“The government is decisive and willing to come out with policies that will rescue the situation”. He said.