Following an operation launched by the Nigerian Army to tackle incidents of robbery and cattle rustling, a Lagos-based lawyer, Mr. Festus Keyamo, SAN, has advised the military to concentrate first on protecting the lives of farmers against incessant attacks by Fulani herdsmen.
The 1 Division, Nigerian Army, Kaduna, recently launched a special operation in parts of Kaduna and Niger states to tackle rising cases of kidnapping, armed robbery and cattle rustling.
The Deputy Director, Army Public Relations, Col. Muhammad Dole, in a statement, said the operation, code named, “Karamin Goro”, would cover the Minna-Birnin Gwari-Pandogari and Minna-Sarkin Pawa general area.
Keyamo, however, argued that the Army should first channel the efforts and energy towards safeguarding the farmers because of the tension in the country, which he said was informed by the herdsmen’s frequent attacks on agrarian communities across the country.
While noting that the herdsmen also needed to be protected, the Lagos lawyer said the army should not be seen to be biased or one-sided in carrying out the operations.
Keyamo said, “My view, I think the army should first of all concentrate on protecting the farmers because of the mood of the nation. They should not be seen as being one-sided. I have said the Fulani herdsmen also need protection from cattle rustlers, but the truth of the matter is that the Army must also protect the farmers.
“They must launch operations that will guarantee the lives of the farmers.”
The Senior Advocate of Nigeria also warned Nigerians about their perception of President Muhammadu Buhari’s position on the rampaging Fulani herdsmen.
Keyamo said, “I think we must be very careful not to play into the hands of politicians; there is a lot of politics going on in respect of this matter. What I think is that the government should make security very pertinent.
“We had thought that the issue of killings by the Fulani herdsmen had long stopped, even during the time of Jonathan, when a serving Senator was killed. But that is not an excuse for the Buhari administration. They should make the efforts they are making very clear to the public; what they are doing to totally end the crisis.”
