Why lawmakers want killer herdsmen labelled terrorist group – Reps member, Mark Gbillah

Mark Gbillah, the lawmaker representing Gwer-East/Gwer-West Federal Constituency of Benue, has again urged President Muhammadu Buhari to declare killer herdsmen as a terrorist group.

The lawmaker also gave Buhari a 48-hour ultimatum to address Nigerians on the spate of killings and insurgency, or he would be seen as incapable of ending insurgency in the country.

Speaking on the floor of the Lower Chamber of the legislature, Gbillah spoke on the incessant killings by bandits, herdsmen and terrorist groups in some Northern parts of Nigeria and decried the inability of the President, who is the Commander-in-Chief of the Armed Forces, to stop and arrest the perpetrators.

He claimed that the inactions of the President has further emboldened the bandits to continue their deadly acts.

He said: “The House is alarmed at the brazen nature of the attacks by the herdsmen and alleged bandits who attack these communities with impunity, brazenly clad in military fatigues and audibly communicating with each other in Fulani, as reported by eyewitness accounts from the recent attacks in Kaduna.

“Obviously emboldened by the inability of the Nigerian Armed Forces to curb their activities, these killers have gradually progressed from attacking remote villages at night to sacking whole towns in broad daylight, displacing residents and occupying affected communities.

“We have no other option than to directly engage the President and Commander In Chief of the Armed Forces who has primary responsibility for the security and welfare of every Nigerian citizens.”

He gave Buhari 48 hours ultimatum to address the country and order the armed forces to put a stop to the killings of innocent Nigerians by bandits.

The House voted in support of the motion and concluded that the President would be seen as incapable of ending insecurity in the country if he fails to act within the stipulated time.

He said: “President Buhari should address the House and the nation within 48 hours on his inability and the inability of his administration since inception to declare the killer herdsmen as terrorists to enable commensurate action against them by the armed forces; the inability of the armed forces under his watch to stop the recurring deaths of scores of innocent Nigerians annually from systematic attacks by killer herdsmen and alleged bandits and the gradual occupation of affected communities by these herdsmen, despite countless assurances and statements by him promising to stop the attacks.

“The immediate measures he intends to employ as the C-In-C to provide the armed forces, including the Police with the required resources (equipment, welfare, etc) to confront and dislodge the killer herdsmen from their hideouts.”

An ad-hoc committee to meet with the Presidency and Chief of Defence Staff and also organize a public hearing to determine permanent solutions to insecurity was set up.

Sahara Reporters