President Muhammadu Buhari has said that his administration will not grant amnesty to terrorist herders wrecking havoc to human lives and properties predominantly in the northern region and across the country.
The president gave this assurance during the joint security meeting of Northern State Governors’ Forum and traditional rulers on Thursday.
Buhari, represented by Ibrahim Gambari, Chief of staff to the president, said the country is battling with different dimensions of security challenges, adding that he has asked the new service chiefs to devise new strategies that will end the insurgency.
“I must appreciate the efforts of the 19 Northern States Governors’ Forum for their contribution towards national growth and development, especially in this challenging period in our nation’s being where certain fundamental corporate existence need to be frankly deliberated upon and actionable resolutions reached,” Buhari said.
“This meeting is coming at a time when the nation is making steady progress in addressing the many challenges impeding developmental and progress. We are providing critical infrastructure such as roads, railways, airports among others which are critical to economic prosperity of our people as well as opening up economic opportunities for our citizens to pursue legitimate aspirations that grow the economy.
“At the same time, we are confronting the various dimensions of security challenges that continue to slow down the emancipation of our people from poverty and economic deprivation. The Government shall continue to deal with insurgents, bandits, kidnappers and other criminals who constitute a threat to innocent citizens across the country.
“Criminals are criminals and should be dealt with accordingly, without resorting to ethnic profiling. I have already tasked the new Service Chiefs to devise new strategies that will end this ugly situation where the lives of our people continue to be threatened by hoodlums and criminals.”
Some government officials and persons like Kaduna-based Islamic cleric, Sheikh Ahmed Gumi, have called for the terrorist herders to be granted amnesty blankets.
While some of these voices justify for their calls for peace deals to be the best means of restoring peace to the embattled region, others like Gumi say the terrorists herders are victims who picked up arms to defend their existence.
