Time to have a coordinated approach to insecurity
As part of the unending efforts by governments’ to end kidnapping and other crimes across the country, the Edo State government recently ordered all herdsmen operating in forests in the state to vacate or face dire consequences. At an emergency security meeting held in Benin, the state capital, the acting governor of the state, Comrade […]
Insecurity
As part of the unending efforts by governments’ to end kidnapping and other crimes across the country, the Edo State government recently ordered all herdsmen operating in forests in the state to vacate or face dire consequences.
At an emergency security meeting held in Benin, the state capital, the acting governor of the state, Comrade Philip Shaibu, gave marching orders to all traditional rulers to engage local hunters and vigilantes, to flush out “criminal Fulani herdsmen” in all the forests in the state.
The meeting was also attended by opinion leaders and heads of the various security agencies in the state. He said the meeting was called following the recent killing of an abducted priest and a hunter.
Part of the resolutions reached at the meeting was a directive to the 18 local government councils in the state to provide stipends and needed resources for the vigilante and hunters, on a monthly basis, to comb the forests and flush out the suspected criminals and that traditional rulers would, henceforth, be held responsible for any act of kidnapping and terrorism that occurs in their respective domains.
The meeting also directed that all those currently residing in any forest in Edo State, in the guise of camping, should vacate such areas with immediate effect. The acting governor also mandated all acting LGC heads to use all the security apparatus, including the police, army, vigilante groups, hunters and others, to forcefully remove any erring groups or individuals within the next 10 days.
“That, henceforth, any traditional ruler and village head, who had collected money from any herdsmen, therefore, permitting any form of camping or grazing in any Edo State forest should refund such money and ask the herdsmen to leave with immediate effect,” the meeting resolved.
However, the head of the Fulani community in the state, Muhammed Sosal, alleged that vigilantes have been raiding the forests, since the order was given, chasing Fulani herders and their cows. He said Fulani residing in the state have nothing to do with attacks, killings and kidnappings.
He alleged that in the last few days since the order was issued, five herders had been shot while several cows were killed by vigilante groups accompanied by the police.
“We have lived peacefully in Edo State for over 50 years and have never experienced this kind of problem. If at all we are no longer welcome courtesy demands that the government calls the leaders of the Fulani community in the state to let them know about the decision,’’ he said.
Daily Trust supports efforts by governments, at all levels, to stop attacks, kidnappings and killings, by bandits and other unscrupulous elements in the country. However, in taking such decisions governments must exercise due caution to ensure that the innocent does not suffer from its action.
In the last few years we have seen such measures taken in some states which often turned out to be counterproductive. In most cases it resulted in the attack, killing and philandering of the properties of those suspected to be behind the alleged crimes without due process.
It is more worrisome that the implementation of such directive is often carried out by unprofessional personnel whose main aim is to direct their anger at a particular group in the society. The result of their actions often led to the complication of the problem further dividing the people who had lived in peace for decades.
In view of that, we urge government officials to avoid panic measures that instead of addressing problems end up complicating them. In taking such decisions the consequences must be thoroughly weighed to ensure the rights of all persons within that domain are not breached. They must remember that they have sworn to protect the rights of every citizen under them. Decisions should neither be left open to abuse by quasi bodies nor allowed to portray any citizen in bad light or expose them to danger.
State governments would do better by bringing all segments of the society to the table to find and agree to solutions to the security problem bedeviling the country. It is always important to get the buy-in of all those involved.
We believe also that it is high time that the federal government summoned a national summit to address the issue of kidnapping and banditry in a holistic manner rather than leaving it to whims and caprices of individual states.
It is apparent that the security situation in the country needs a team approach, rather than the current piecemeal approach we are experiencing now. The earlier this is done the better, especially as we approach the 2023 general elections.