Nigerian Governors yesterday raised the alarm over the infiltration of their states by suspected mercenaries posing as Fulani cattle rearers.
The bandits are quite different from Fulani and well-armed, the governors said. Boko Harm insurgents disguise as military men, they use AK-47 and their mission are not known, said the governors who fear that the insurgents may unleash terror on 17 states.
The Governor raised the concern during National Economic Council (NEC) meeting presided over by Vice President Namadi Sambo, at the presidential villa, Abuja, affirming that the latest developments around the country are very worrisome, with seemly the very long battle against insurgency.
Among the ste Governor who raised the alarms are,do state Governor, Adams Oshiomhole, Emmanuel Uduaghan of Delta state and Idris Wada (Kogi).
The NEC meeting chaired by Sambo, with all the 36 state governors and some ministers as members, is the highest economic policy making body in the country.
Only about 10 governors attended the meeting yesterday, while a good number of the governors absent were represented by their deputies. Briefing State House correspondents after the NEC meeting alongside his Benue counterpart, Gabriel Suswam, Akwa Ibom State governor Godswill Akpabio said:
“Comprehensive discussion was made in the council and the governors of Delta and Edo states say that people came into their states in trucks without cattle. Cattle grazers move around with cattle but these insurgents now come to town in their large numbers and in trailer loads.
“The governor of Kogi also confirmed that they have cordoned off an area because these people came in four trucks. They have asked security to cordon them. It is actually a cause for concern because mercenaries have taken over; what is happening is that this is beyond the Fulanis that we know and who are part of us.
These are different crops of people either parading as Fulani or people who are Fulani from displaced areas because they are heavily armed.
“The Fulani around us here are never heavily armed. Even their women carry AK 47. So these are not the regular Fulani we are used to who are within our country. These are people moving into our country with a mission we are yet to know. But the NSA assured us that serious actions are being taken to address and contain these people who are moving into Nigeria from destinations that we do not even know.”
Akpabio hinted that Governor Suswam absolved three soldiers arrested by a group of youths in his state and clarified on the involvement of the military in communal clashes taking place in Benue, even as he said the insurgents most of the time wear military uniforms.
He said Suswam explained that the arrest of three soldiers by some youths in a community in Benue was done in error, adding that the soldiers did not go there to attack the community.
“It was not as if they came to attack but they were actually in the town. The fact of the matter is that the insurgents now wear military uniforms,” he stated.
On the growing spate of gory clashes between farmers and herdsmen, the governor said council received a presentation by the national security adviser on the incessant conflicts between farmers and pastorialists, highlighting the challenges and solutions in Nigeria.
He said, “According to the NSA’s presentation, 17 states have been identified as flashpoints, among which are Plateau, Benue, Adamawa, Niger, Bauchi, Nasarawa, Kwara, Kaduna and Oyo.
NSA reported to the council that his office is working out an international conference in Nigeria to deal with the situation, adding that an international NGO in Geneva is already working with some communities in Plateau State to find ways of settling the conflicts.
“Council noted that a committee on grazing reserves under the chairmanship of Governor Murtala Nyako is already working to provide solutions to the farmers-pastorialists’ conflicts. Council also recommended that the governor of Benue State should join Governor Nyako as co-chair to fast-track the working of the committee.”
Akpabio further hinted that NEC also resolved that a technical committee be set up to come up with recommendations on how to manage incessant conflicts between crop farmers and pastorialists, adding that the committee is to report back to council within two weeks.
He listed the committee members as follows: minister of agriculture (chairman), minister of environment (member), minister of science and technology (member), minister of interior (member), minister of water resources (member), minister of national planning (member), NSA (member), director-general of National Orientation Agency (member) and representatives of states as members.
Akpabio disclosed further that NEC expressed worry over the displacement of farmers by herdsmen, even as he said if the situation was not nipped in the bud, it may lead to food shortage in the country.
He added that NEC, however, decided that its chairman, Vice President Namadi Sambo, should consult with President Goodluck Jonathan so that an emergency meeting be convened of all the affected states to find lasting solution to the problem.
NEC also hinted that the Excess Crude Account (ECA) at the moment stands at $3.5bn after payments for fuel subsidy and SURE-P.
Governor Akpabio said after the coordinating minister for the economy and minister of finance, Dr Ngozi Okonjo-Iweala, had briefed the council on Excess Crude Account, NEC resolved that details of spending on excess crude be given to states on time, just as it urged that expeditious action be taken to sort out all the legalities surrounding the ECA.
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