Nigerian Military Set To Go Hard On Killer Herdsmen

Herdsmen who attack people and those who pose as herdsmen to attack will have it rough henceforth.

Strong indications have emerged that the military high command is set to come up with a joint operation involving the various security agencies against the menace of Fulani herdsmen in the country.

The Acting Director, Defence Information, Brig. Gen. Rabe Abubakar, said that the expected operation would not be restricted to a single service of the Armed Forces.

He said that the operation would be similar to the ones formed to battle the insurgency in the North-East, the militancy in the Niger Delta and other parts of the country.

He was reacting to the question from Punch of what the military would do in view of the recent directive by President Muhammadu Buhari to the military and the police to stop the recurrent killing of hapless villagers by alleged Fulani herdsmen.

Buhari's directive followed the murder of some Nigerians at Ukpabi Nimbo Community in Uzo-Uwani area of Enugu State by suspected Fulani herdsmen on Sunday.

The Acting Defence spokesman added that the issue of the threat posed by the herdsmen would be given the deserved attention by the military.

“The ideas of joint operation will always be there because it is a common knowledge that it is not a one service business. It must involve all other security agencies.

“Each and every one of us has a role to play: physical security, giving information, synergising with other stakeholders. That is what we are doing in the North-East and the Niger Delta and other parts.

“The current resurgence of this issue of herdsmen is something which must be given a priority now that there is a glaring security threats to lives and property which the Armed Forces and other security agencies cannot close their eyes to."