We Are Determined To End Herdsmen /Farmers Clashes – Osinbajo

Acting President Yemi Osinbajo assured yesterday that the federal government is determined to tackle farmers/ herders clashes in the country head on.

This, he said, has become necessary because, apart from being at the front burner in the country, the security challenge forms the cardinal objectives of the President Muhammadu Buhari administration.

Osinbajo who stated this at the opening ceremony of the 2017 national security summit on farmers-pastoralist clashes, kidnapping and other forms of violent crimes and bank security in Nigeria also noted that the administration will soon address all the challenges confronting the Nigeria Police Force.

The ongoing national security summit with a theme, “Forging Partnerships For Effective Strategies To Curb The Menace Of Kidnapping, Recurring Farmers- Herders Clashes & Criminality in Nigeria held at the international Conference Centre, Abuja, was organised by the Inspector General of Police (IGP) in conjunction with LEADERSHIP Newspapers Group and the National Council of Traditional Rulers of Nigeria.

The acting president who was represented by the Minister of Interior, Gen Abdulrahman Dambazau, observed that every great nation must pay attention to security.

He said, “There is improved security, especially in the North East. We are now faced with rural banditry, which has posed a security threat.

“Security management is for the entire populace. We are partnering multinational organisations to improve the security of our country. It is our duty to improve the safety of our citizens.

Stating that the current administration will soon address all the challenges confronting the Police, Osinbajo further assured that the recently launched national security plan will help the security agencies.

He said, “I want to assure the Nigeria Police Force of our administration’s support in line with global practices. The man-power shortages is being tackled with the recruitment of 10,000 policemen.

“Let me call on all to intensify their efforts in making Nigeria a safe place. We can confidently deliver a secured country”.

We Need 155,000 More Personnel For Effective Policing – IGP

Also, the Inspector General of Police (IGP), Ibrahim Idris, said the Nigeria Police Force needed additional 155, 000 personnel to bridge the gap and attain the United Nations ratio requirement of one police officer to 400 citizens.

He explained that if the requirement was to be taken into consideration, the Force needs to recruit at least 31,000 Police officers yearly for a period of at least five years from now.

IGP Idris who also identified funding as a major challenge of the Force called on the National Assembly to pass the Nigeria Police Reform Trust Fund (Establishment) bill.

The IGP who is the chief host of the summit said, “The Nigeria Police Reform Trust Fund (Establishment) bill is to further provide a legal framework that will outline the counterpart funding arrangement between the federal government, the states, local governments and organised private sector. This is yet to see the light of the day.

“When the bill is passed, the funding will be through a first line charge on the Federation Account quarterly from the sources indicated above”.

He noted that as part of the activities of the Police and efforts to enhance security all over the country, the Force is increasing its capacity to respond swiftly to challenges in all states of the federation through the establishment of more Police Mobile Force Squadrons.

He said, “So far, seven additional Police Mobile Force Squadrons have been established in the following states: Osun state (Ilesha), Enugu state (Nsukka), Taraba state (Takum), Niger state (Kontagora), Plateau state (Shendam), Kaduna state (Kanfanchan) and Ogun state (Awa Ijebu).

“We have also established a school to train close protection units personnel in order to enhance their capacity and also the plan to establish more close protection basis in all states of the federation has been concluded.

“So far, 14 special protection bases have been established in the following states of the federation: Anambra, Imo, Enugu, Plateau, Nasarawa, Ogun, Rivers, Delta, Bayelsa, Borno, Yobe, Bauchi, Ondo and Zamfara”.

Govt Should Handle This Crisis As It Did Boko Haram – Nda-Isaiah

In his address, the chairman, LEADERSHIP Newspapers Group, Mr Sam Nda-Isaiah, said government should handle the crisis involving herdsmen and farmers the same way it did to the Boko Haram sect.

Nda-Isaiah who is also the co-host of the national security summit regretted that the farmers/ herdsmen clashes which have led to the killing of many Nigerians have also affected food security and the unity of Nigeria.

He said, “The crisis between farmers and herdsmen has affected food security and the unity of our nation. It is as bad as the Boko Haram crisis. It is the same government that degraded Boko Haram when people were afraid to go to Churches and Mosques.

“We expect the same to be done as it was done to the Boko Haram crisis. The herdsmen/ farmers attacks will be tackled if there is a strong intelligence. The crisis between herders and farmers should be taken very serious just the same way it was done to the Boko Haram. That is why we need a new approach. We must setup ranches”.

The Kakaki Nupe commended the minister of Interior and his Agriculture and Natural Resources counterpart for bringing in measures to be deployed in tackling the menace.

“This is an important submit. The traditional rulers, the security agents and the generals in the Nigerian Army are here and we must find a solution to this herdsmen/ farmers clashes”, Nda-Isaiah declared.

A Bill On Police Trust Fund Underway – Sen Abu Ibrahim

Also speaking at the function, the chairman Senate Committee On Police, Senator Abu Ibrahim, assured that a bill on Nigeria Police Reform Trust Fund (Establishment) was underway.

He said that the senate will look into the bill and conclude work on the necessary aspects of legislation to the give it a legislative backing.

We Are Committed To Supporting Nigeria On Security Matters- Chinese Ambassador

Meanwhile, the government of the Peoples Republic of China has pledged to assist in boosting the capacity of the Nigeria Police Force, saying it was committed to supporting Nigeria on matters pertaining to security.

Speaking at the national security summit, the Chinese Ambassador to Nigeria, Zhou Pingjian, said his home country has also extended invitation to the Inspector General Police of Police to pay his first official visit to China.

Pingjian who donated the sum of N10 million at the summit emphasised that it was only through such interface that the two countries could benefit from each other.

He said, “As the IGP said in his opening remarks, security is everybody’s business. The summit will not only translate to better life for all Nigerians, it will also benefit the members of the Diplomatic Corps, expatriates and members of the international community at large.

“As a strategic partner of Nigeria, China stands to deepen its cooperation with Nigeria in all areas, including peace and security. We will continue to enhance exchange programmes in crime fighting in both countries.”