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Southern and Middle Belt Leaders Forum (SMBLF) has called on President Muhammadu Buhari to stop the free migration of foreign herdsmen into the country.
This comes after Governor Abdullahi Ganduje of Kano State similarly urged the President to end the protocol on free movement that allows herdsmen from other countries to freely move into Nigeria.
In line with Governor Ganduje’s opinion to the president, the leaders representing the four regions of the association, Yinka Odumakin (South-West), Chief Guy Ikokwu (South-East), Senator Bassey Henshaw (South-South) and Dr Isuwa Dogo (Middle Belt), jointly stated on Monday, that the peace of Nigeria is currently under threat because of the activities of the herdsmen.
“The position of the governor better appreciates the lawlessness of the armed herdsmen that has led to the loss of hundreds of lives around the country in recent years with the Federal Government turning a blind eye to these atrocities or making statements that tacitly encourage them,” SMBLF said in the statement.
“We still have not come to terms with the declaration by the President last year that Africans are free to come to Nigeria and obtain visas on arrival when he once identified Ghadafi militiamen as a bulk of the troublers of Nigeria under the guise of herding.
“It is also worrying that while the police have been troubling those who own licensed guns to come and return them, herdsmen, who carry illegal sophisticated weapons like AK-47, roam free all over Nigeria.
“It took nine months for the police to arrest some of the herdsmen who killed the daughter of Afenifere Leader, Chief Reuben Fasoranti.
“We do not also accept the statement of the Bauchi Governor and Miyetti Allah that Fulanis are free to move anywhere in Nigeria because each territory has indigenous owners.
“We encourage northern governors to move away from the mindset of Governor Bala Mohammed and support the reasonable call of Ganduje.
“The peace of Nigeria is currently under threat because of the activities of the herdsmen under whose roaming crimes of kidnapping, destruction of communities and killings of innocent people are taking place.
“We call on the President to rise to the duty of his office to protect all Nigerians and hearken to the call of Governor Ganduje to halt these movements and prosecute those who are committing crimes against humanity under the guise of herding.”
