Shettima: People politicising herdsmen killings

The Northern States Governors Forum (NSGF) has condemned the killings carried out by herdsmen across the country, warning any individual or group against politicising the situation.

Addressing journalists at the end of the NSGF’s meeting in Kaduna, Kashim Shettima, governor of Borno state and chairman of the forum, said rather than unite and find a solution to the problem, some people have chosen to be insulting the Fulanis.

“We want to unequivocally condemn the recent killings in the country. From Agatu in Benue to Enugu and other parts of the country,” he said.

“But, we equally condemn the politicisation of the whole crisis. It goes beyond Fulani. If anything happens, they say Fulani herdsmen; to me it is an insult.

“Kidnapping in this country originated in the South-east, were they called Igbo kidnappers? We have a great national challenge and we want to call on all and sundry to come and let us solve our common challenges as a people.”

Shettima also spoke on the insurgency in the north-east, saying the current administration has succeeded in degrading the Boko Haram sect.

“I can confidently confirm that the insurgency has been irredeemably halted and the insurgents themselves completely subdued,” he said.

“What remains now are few isolated pockets of suicide bombings which the recalcitrant remnants of the insurgents use as a last resort to attract attention and create unnecessary panic among the general population.

He called on President Muhammadu Buhari to ensure the full restoration of civil authority in the recaptured areas in order to pave way for the safe return of internally displaced people (IDPs).

“Subsequently, officers of the Nigerian Police and those of the Civil Defence Corps could be deployed to maintain law and order and also stave off any intrusion into these communities,” he said.

“It has therefore become a strategic imperative for us to take a hard look at these formidable challenges and work out strategies on the most effective ways of not only reversing the trend but also overcoming them once and for all.

“Whatever resolutions   we can come up with would be communicated to the appropriate authorities for obvious analytical examination and possible implementation.”