AUCHI – The Federal Government has been called upon to as a matter of urgency deploy soldiers to curtail the activities of Fulani herdsmen in the area.
The call was made by the traditional rulers in Edo North at an enlarged meeting held at the palace of the Otaru of Auchi, in Auchi, the Administrative Headquarters of Etsako West Local Government Area.
Addressing journalists on behalf of the traditional rulers, the Otaru of Auchi, HRH Alhaji H. A Momoh, Ikelebe III said the menace of the herdsmen has continued to generate tension in the country in recent time.
He said the council noted that the Nigeria Police possess inferior weapons to the herdsmen which he said had resulted in the inability of the police to check the excesses of the Fulanis.
“We the council of traditional rulers in Edo North is appealing to the Federal Government to ensure that soldiers are deployed to some of these areas to check the excesses of herdsmen.
“We have found out that the police don’t have the armoury and strength to fight the herdsmen,” the council said.
They noted that vigilante groups that have in the past dared the criminally minded herdsmen have been demoralized due to irregular payment of their stipends apparently as a result of drop in government finances.
“We have a situation of the menace of Fulani herdsmen that have been operating and disturbing our farmers all over this place, it is increasingly very disturbing, saying that the original activities of the Fulani herdsmen as cattle rearers have been changed to that of killings, raping of women and kidnapping in their farmlands, adding that women are no longer going to their farms as a result of the fear of the Fulanis.
“Before now, herdsmen have always been coming; they have their routes they pass to the south and other parts over the years.
“But now there have been issues of destroyed farmlands or people being taken as hostages, kidnappers all over the place, that is something that we want government to address,” he said.
The council urged the Federal Government to take practical steps towards curbing the security challenges posed by the herdsmen.
Meanwhile, the traditional rulers had earlier held a special prayer for the Oba of Benin who transited and extended their condolences to the Crown Prince Eheneden Erediauwa, the Governor Comrade Adams Oshiomhole and the entire Benin Kingdom over the passage of the royal father who they described as a pillar of unity.
