The Inspector General of Police, IGP, Solomon Arase, has revealed that herdsmen who launched violent attack on farmers in Nigeria, were mostly foreigners.
The IGP made this known at an interactive section with stakeholders on community policing in Akure, the Ondo State capital, at the weekend.
While reacting to a question raised by a farmer on “persistent attacks of herdsmen,” Arase said most of the troublesome herdsmen were not Nigerians but foreigners, who entered the country with their cattle due to porous borders.
He said they were either from Mali or Chad, adding that Nigerian herdsmen were law abiding and would not indulge in such an act.
Arase said the police and states now partner on how to build ranches for herdsmen, adding that he earlier discussed with the state Governor, Olusegun Mimiko.
Urging the farmers to be careful and take caution in dealing with them, the police boss said, “We should also know about the history of migration.
“Most of these herdsmen are not Nigerians. They are people from Mali, Chad, who came into our system. So that is why we have to be careful.
“Our borders are porous. Predominantly, our own herdsmen are law abiding people,” he added, stressing that when people come from outside with their cattle, ‘we should not deny them entry because of ECOWAS protocols, good neighbourliness’.
“At the same time we should not allow them to embark on criminal activities.”
The IGP further noted that he had taken suggestions about how big ranches can be developed so that farmers can stop grazing on farmlands.
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