A retired military officer, Colonel Hassan Stan-Labo, has urged President Muhammadu Buhari to declare Fulani herdsmen as terrorists.
Labo advocated this while speaking on Channels TV programme, arguing that that’s the only solution to halt killings by herdsmen in some parts of the country, adding that putting herdsmen on the watchlist would attract the international community.
He said: “If we declare killer herders terrorists, it will place them on the watchlist. We can get assistance from the international community. The killer herders have political backing.
“Already in Benue we have law of close grazing, we expect the Federal government to give full support and make funds available for both grazing land and growing of fodder. It becomes a win-win situation for both parties.
“Enlightenment also has a great role to play in putting an end to herdsmen attack.
“Leaders should be responsible and responsive, therefore say things not to divide and entrench general public.”
Speaking on the Inspector General of Police, Ibrahim Idris, Labo said immediate dismissal of the IGP would have driven a serious message to police officers with lackadaisical attitude.
“The President as the Commander in Chief of the Federal Republic. He is the State. The president should, therefore, bring to bear on governance generally.
“If I was the Commander in Chief, in his (Buhari’s) position. As I am telling you that I am surprised he never went, I will immediately be announcing his retirement asking the next fellow to remain in acting capacity until I appoint another Inspector General.
“It will send a message down that you are a serious President,” he said.
“The Nigeria Police according to the retired military officer are overwhelmed. Stan-Labo said the police are overwhelmed by the incessant killings and cannot solely tackle the herdsmen-farmers successfully.
“More military intervention is needed as the police is not wired to carry out some of the functions assigned to them. I don’t see what the police are doing in Benue, running around in the forest.
“Giving what is going on, we know the police is overwhelmed. The police have got a huge manpower deficit which goes in tandem with its capacity deficiency and so on.
“The task in Benue, Taraba and so on are fully military tasks,” Labo added.