For peace to reign, states should suspend anti-open grazing law- IGP Idris

The Inspector General of Police, Ibrahim Idris, has identified the anti-open grazing law passed by some states as a major cause of the ongoing clashes between herdsmen and farmers, and noted that suspending the law was one way to end the deadly clashes.

The IGP spoke when he appeared before the Senate Committee of Police in response to the Senate’s summon on Tuesday.

The Senate had given the police boss a 14-day ultimatum to arrest and prosecute the perpetrators of the killing of 73 residents in Benue State.

The Senate on Wednesday resolved to summon Idris to provide update on the mission as it vowed not to overlook the matter.

As the meeting commenced, the IGP gave brief details of the local governments visited in the state before journalists were then excused from the room as the meeting held behind closed doors.

Read also: Leave second term ambition, first address security threats, Okogie urges Buhari

After the closed door sessions, however, a source inside the meeting was reported to have said that the police chief had complained about the presence of small armed militia groups which he said was making it difficult for the police to restore peace to the state.

“He said that about 140 people have been arrested so far and most of them have been charged to court for prosecution. And he said that investigations are still ongoing for those who are yet to be charged to court,” the source reported Idris as saying.

The IGP was also reported as telling the committee that the cause of the crisis was the anti-open grazing law.

He therefore “asked for stoppage of implementation of the law until ranches are provided, then the law can be gradually implemented again. He also asked for further equipping and funding for police to assist their work in the area and across the country”, the source added.

 

RipplesNigeria… without borders, without fears

Click here to join the Ripples Nigeria WhatsApp group for latest updates.

Join the conversation

Opinions

Support Ripples Nigeria, hold up solutions journalism

Balanced, fearless journalism driven by data comes at huge financial costs.

As a media platform, we hold leadership accountable and will not trade the right to press freedom and free speech for a piece of cake.

If you like what we do, and are ready to uphold solutions journalism, kindly donate to the Ripples Nigeria cause.

Your support would help to ensure that citizens and institutions continue to have free access to credible and reliable information for societal development.

Donate Now