Senators have asked the nation’s security agencies to rise to the defence of hapless Nigerians who are daily being killed by suspected Fulani herdsmen ravaging various parts of the country.
After reviewing cases of renewed killings by the armed herdsmen, the Upper House on Wednesday said that the security agencies, especially the military and the police, owed Nigerians the responsibility to defend them against criminal elements, especially the Fulani bandits.
The Senate specifically charged the Chief of Defence Staff, Gen. Abayomi Olonisakin, and the Inspector-General of Police, Mr. Ibrahim Idris, to
rise up to their responsibilities and halt the continued killing of Nigerians by criminal herdsmen.
The Senate’s directive followed a report of the killing of innocent women in parts of Edo State by suspected Fulani herdsmen.
The Senate asked the Chief of Defence Staff and the Inspector general of Police to deploy soldiers and policemen to fish out the perpetrators of the heinous acts.
The Senate mandated its ad-hoc committee, chaired by Senator Kabiru Gaya, to investigate all the activities of Fulani herdsmen in the country, including the recent attacks in Edo State.
In a motion he moved on the floor of the Upper House, Senator Clifford Ordia, who represents Edo Central, drew the Senate’s attention to the incident in Ewu in Edo Central where two women were raped and killed by suspected Fulani herdsmen.
Ordia also referred to another incident where four women were also recently raped in a community in Edo North Senatorial District.
Senator Ordia’s motion, which touched on an issue of urgent national concern, was tagged: “Need to curtail the activities of Fulani herdsmen in Edo State”.
The lawmaker’s claims were corroborated by Senator Francis Alimikhena, who represents Edo North Senatorial District.
Ordia said that the attacks were carried out on May 22, 2017.
His account: “These ravaging herdsmen entered a farmland located in Ewu community, Esan Central Local Government of Edo State, and raped two women – Mrs. Martina Emoyon and Mrs. Ariu, strangled them to death, destroyed crops and sacked a lot of people from their farmlands.”
“Consequent upon these criminal activities of the Fulani herdsmen, the youths of Ewu engaged in a peaceful protest to draw the attention of the Federal Government to the problem. Sadly, one Ehimen Donald Abuya was shot and the victim is at present lying critically ill at Irrua Specialist Hospital.”
“Since these destructive attacks occurred, it has been observed that no farmer in the communities has engaged in farming activities for fear of being killed.”
“I am concerned about the heinous and criminal activities being perpetrated by Fulani herdsmen who ravaged communities and deprived persons of their right to life and prosperity, raped, defiled women and destroyed farms/crops amongst other criminal activities across the country.”
“Despite the public outcry and previous resolutions of the National Assembly as regards the criminal activities of herdsmen, there seems to be no visible action on the part of government to curtail, abate or stop the criminal activities of these elements among Fulani herdsmen”.
Citing Section 33(1) of Chapter IV of the 1999 Constitution (as amended), Senator Ordia said: “Every person has a right to life and no one shall be deprived intentionally of his life, save in the execution of a court sentence in respect of criminal offence of which he has been found guilty in Nigeria”.
“The Africa Chapter on Human and Peoples Right, of which Nigeria is a signatory, also provides for right to life and respect for integrity of persons, freedom from slavery, torture, cruel, inhuman and degrading treatment”.
“Section 43 of the constitution provides that every citizen shall have a right to acquire and own immovable property anywhere in Nigeria.”
“The 1999 Constitution in Section 14(b) clearly provides that the security and welfare of the people shall be the primary purpose of government”.
Senator Alimikhena, who said that four women were raped in a community in his senatorial district, lamented that the herdsmen had taken over highways and farmlands in the area.
He said that his people were handicapped since they were not allowed to bear arms. He appealed to the Senate to intervene so that the carnage in his area could be stopped.
After their submissions, the Senate directed the security chiefs to act fast on the matter and halt the dangerous trend of Fulani herdsmen marauding through the nation.
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