*Arrests over 200 kidnappers, *Recovers 50 AK-47 riffles
By Hassan Zaggi
State governors bent on implementing anti-open grazing laws passed by their legislatures must first set ranches before enforcing the laws, the Inspector-General of Police, Mr. Ibrahim Idris, has said.
Idris declared on Wednesday that it would be improper to arrest and prosecute Fulani herdsmen for breaching such laws without any ranches in the affected states for them to rear their animals.
He therefore advised such state governors to first establish cattle ranches before implementing or enacting the anti-open grazing laws in their states.
The police chief said that if his counsel was heeded the conflicts between farmers and herdsmen would be averted.
Idris spoke at the Northern States Stakeholdersa�� Security Summit, in Kaduna with the theme: a�?National Building: Security Challenges and the Need for Inclusive Approacha�?.
Idris said: a�?It is my humble suggestion that to reduce incidences of clashes between farmers and herders in Nigeria, state governments should endeavour to establish ranches in their various states before enacting laws to prohibit open rearing and grazing.
a�?It is when grazing ranches are established that herders can be arrested and punished for rearing and grazing in the open places. Doing so will make the law acceptable by all the parties concerned and other critical stakeholders in that sectora�?.
Idris insisted that the crises which claimed many lives in Benue State and other parts of the country would have been averted had ranches been established first before prohibiting open grazing.
He stated further that the Police have made some arrests in Benue and other places, and warned that there would be no sacred cows, as anyone who violates the law would be arrested and prosecuted.
He equally advised politicians to desist from acts capable of truncating the forthcoming 2019 general elections.
According to him, a�?election contest must not be a do-or-die affair. It must be approached with the spirit of sportsmanship. Politicians should, as a matter of urgent national importance, begin to educate their supporters on the need for violent-free electionsa�?.
On the banditry in Zamfara State, the IGP said that the present administration was taking steps to avert future occurrence.
He explained that from December last year till date, the police arrested over 200 kidnappers, armed robbery and cattle rustling suspects in various parts of the country.
a�?Over 50 AK 47 rifles, 20 English made pistols, two 5MG rifles, over 1,000 rounds of AK 47 rifles and other assorted pistols ammunition were recovered from them.
a�?These recoveries raise serious alarm on the number of illegal arms and ammunition at the disposal of criminals and bandits.
a�?This must not be allowed to continue, especially as the 2019 general election is fast approachinga�?.
IGP TO GOVS: No ranches, no anti-grazing law
