Herdsmen Killings: Why Police Can’t Arrest, Punish Herdsmen – IG Of Police Explains

The Inspector General of Police, IGP, Ibrahim Idris, has disclosed why the Force can’t arrest herdsmen for open grazing across the country.
 

IG of Police, Ibrahim Kpotum Idris

While speaking in Kaduna during the northern states stakeholders’ security summit on wednesday, the Inspector General of Police, Alhaji Ibrahim Idris, asked state governments to establish grazing reserves for herdsmen before enacting anti-grazing laws.

The IG of Police noted that if grazing reserves were created by the Benue State government before the enactment of its anti-grazing law, the situation in the state would have been mitigated.

He said clashes between herders and farmers did not start today, maintaining that the current administration has taken more measures to end the crisis more than any previous regime.

According to him, President Muhammadu Buhari has mandated him to adopt effective strategies to end the reoccurring clashes between herdsmen and farmers.

Idris who disclosed why the Police Force can’t arrest herdsmen for open grazing across the country, said the Force can only arrest or punish herdsmen when state governors establish ranches.

“However, it is my humble suggestion that to reduce the incidence of clashes between farmers and herders in Nigeria, state governments should endeavour to establish grazing ranches in their various states before enacting laws to prohibit open rearing and grazing.

 

“It is when grazing ranches are established that herders can be arrested and punished for rearing and grazing on the open places.

 

“Doing so, I am of the opinion that it will make the law acceptable by all the parties concerned and other critical stakeholders in that all important sector.

 

“It will do us good if we avoid the hasty formulation and implementation of such laws across the country in the interest of peace and unity.

 

“For instance I have visited Benue and Nasarawa States and observed that the crisis trailing the Benue State prohibition of open rearing and grazing of livestock would have been mitigated, if the state had first established grazing ranches before prohibition of open grazing as provided in the state law established by the state assembly,” Idris said.

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2 COMMENTS

  1. This is just to show that ig,fed goby,herdamen areI partners in crime.why wwould each States open up a ranching for the herds men.cattle grazing was it not a private business? All these there will never be a solution to it all except mass murder and total war.will the fulani herds men northerners give the westerners or the southerners any of their land to cultivate anything whatever freely.if youyou pinch yourself pinch othersof so thatI you know how it feels if the northerners will wantbe this country to be.did isis succeed in iraqd now,.a word for a wise

  2. The issue is that the I.G. speaks like a partner in the crime. If I understand him well, it means that no one will be arrested nor persecuted until the states establishes ranches. That to me is rubbish and an invitation to anarchy. Also he claimed that Buhari has done more than other presidents on issue, that is not. Indeed he has done worse any other past president. And he better wake up.