President Muhammed spokesman, Femi Adesina, has said that the position of the President on killer herdsmen is that any one of them found with illegal arms should be arrested and prosecuted.
Mr. Adesian said this while speaking at an interview with newsmen, reacting to recent comments made by the Benue State Governor, Samuel Ortom.
“If the Governor would say he hasn’t heard the President speak on that matter, that’s what he should make clear; it’s not that the President hasn’t spoken,” Mr. Adesina said.
“Because the number of times the President has spoken on that issue . . . and his position has always been the same: anybody, whoever he is, that carries arms unlawfully should be arrested and prosecuted. The President has said it countless times.”
However, when asked how many herdsmen have been arrested in recent times, Mr. Adesina said, “I don’t have that figure at my fingertips . . . but I know that a lot of people are awaiting trial.”
Femi further states that the clash between farmers and herdsmen just increased this year, especially in the southwest part of Nigeria, where they were given quit notice.
Umar Ganduje, Kano State Governor, suggests that the only possible solution now is ranching.
Reacting to the Governor’s suggestion, Mr. Adesina agrees that all suggestions should be discussed.
He also opined that some states rejected the Federal Government Ruga settlement program, which according to him, was a good initiative.
“Nigeria is a peculiar country where the federal government has no land,” he said. And if states say they have no land for ranches, then another solution has to be found.
“So we need to discuss these things and appraise them critically until we can get to what we can call ‘the’ solution.”
