Leading ethnic groups in Nigeria have kicked against a statement credited to the Nigerian Immigration Service that there are no armed herdsmen in the country.
The groups, Yoruba Pan Socio-cultural group, Afenifere, the Pan-Niger Delta Forum, Arewa Consultative Forum and Ohanaeze Ndigbo berated NIS for making such statement.
The NIS through its spokesperson, Sunday James, had said there were no armed herdsmen in the country. He said that the Comptroller-General of Immigration, Muhammad Babandede, just returned from an official tour of Adamawa State, noting that “no armed herdsman was seen during the over 57km drive near the borders.”
He also claimed that there were no tangible evidences of different killings in Edo, Ogun and others states.
James had said, “You are mentioning locations that there are no proofs. Do you have any location where somebody gives you a proof of an armed herdsman?
However, National Publicity Secretary of Afenifere, Yinka Odumakin, according to Punch, berated the NIS for making such comment saying, “There is hardly any part of Nigeria you can drive a kilometre in the country today without seeing armed herdsmen.
“It is clear there is a grand design to confuse the polity with false narratives. There is no truth in the NIS comment.”
In its response also, PANDEF told the newspaper, through its spokesman, Ken Robinson, that “When people very clearly are being mischievous and try to play on the sensibilities of Nigerians, the best treatment to give to such people for their ignorance is to ignore them. Silence is the best answer to a fool. It is ridiculous for anybody to say that.
“It is a blatant lie and it is better to ignore him because he is just being mischievous,” the PANDEF spokesman stated.
In its reaction the Ohanaeze Ndigbo, said through its spokesman, Chief Alex Ogbonnia, “Just about three days ago, Bauchi State Governor, Bala Mohammed justified the need for herdsmen to carry arms. Secondly, when you said no foreign herdsmen, the Presidency affirmed that the herdsmen terrorising this country were foreign herdsmen that they were not Nigerians. That is for the Presidency.
ACF spokesman, Emmanuel Yawe, on Sunday said that the group would not support any herder or any individual carrying AK-47.
According to the ACF spokesman, whether the AK-47 is for self-defence or not, the ACF will not support anything that is against the law.
“It is against Nigerian law for private citizens to carry such weapons as AK47. Whether for self -defence or not, the ACF will not support anything that is against the law. “Those breaking the law should know that if they are caught, they are on their own. They do not have our support.”