The Catholic Bishop of Awka Diocese, Most Rev. Paulinus Ezeokafor, has described the proposed setting up of grazing reserves and colonies for herdsmen as a time bomb waiting to explode.
He emphasised that ranching remains the only solution to the Fulani herdsmen and farmers’ clash.
Bishop Ezeokafor, who stated this in Awka during the 2018 Armed Forces Remembrance Day Mass at St. Patrick’s Catholic Cathedral, said “killings in Benue State need Operation Python Dance and Crocodile Smile put together.”
The cleric added that deploying the Police to the troubled state may not solve the problem.
He challenged the Nigeria security agents to apply similar measures used in unmasking those behind the killings of over 20 worshippers on New Year’s Eve in Omoku, Rivers State, in fishing out those behind the Benue massacre.
Bishop Ezeokafor wondered why the Federal government should even deploy police to tackle such heinous act which he said left many people dead.
He said he expected them to apply the same measure used in tackling South East and South South, accusing the government of treating the Benue issue with kid gloves.
The Catholic Prelate called for urgent renegotiation of Nigeria, noting that going by the current situation of things in the country, Nigeria needs to be renegotiated. For him, states should be allowed to take charge of their mineral resources, and develop at their own pace.