The Nigerian Government has taken full responsibility for the several attacks by herdsmen on communities across the country.
Herdsmen in recent times have unleashed terror on several communities. The rate of such attacks have become alarming.
The most recent of their several attacks,is the attack on Logo and Guma local government in Benue State were not less than 50 were killed and several other rendered homeless .
The minister of Agriculture and Rural Development Audu Ogbe said government is to be blamed for not doing much to cater for the needs of the herders over the years .
Ogbe who was speaking at a security meeting at the Ministry of interior headquarters Abuja, said the tension across some states now is as a result of governments negligence.
“Over the years we have not done much to look seriously into the issue of livestock development in the country.
“People ask the question why should governmment get involved why shouldn’t the herdsmen manage their own livestock?
“I am sad to tell you that in the last fifty years until recently we may have done enough for the rice farmer, the cassava farmer, the maize farmer, the cocoa farmer, but we haven’t done much for herdsman and that inability and omission on our part is resulting in the crises we are witnessing today”, Ogbeh said.
Also speaking, the Minister of Interior, Abdulrahman Dambazau stressed that threats to security, in whatever form , will not be accepted.
He added that the essence of the meeting was to share experiences on the challenges, with a view to finding a lasting solution.
“Threats to peace and public safety in any form at any location will not be tolerated. It is the responsibility of governments at all levels to provide, unconditionally, sustainable peace and public safety within their territorial boundaries.
“Against this background, the meeting is convened to primarily bring us together to share our experiences on the aforementioned security challenges.
“The meeting will then agree on necessary measures to be taken and apportion responsibilities” he said.
Present at meeting were Governors of Benue (Samuel Ortom), Kaduna (Mallam Nasir El-Rufai ), Nasarawa (Tanko Al-Makura), Niger (Abubakar Sani Bello), as well as Taraba (Darius Isyaku).
Also in attendance were the Inspector General of Police (IGP), Ibrahim Idris, Director General of the Department of State Services (DSS), Lawal Daura, and heads of para-military organisations.
