Obviously incensed with the recent abduction and killing of a Catholic Priest and a hunter and the growing level of insecurity in the state, the Acting Governor of Edo State, Comrade Philip Shaibu, has given marching orders to all traditional rulers to engage local hunters and vigilantes to flush out criminal Fulani herdsmen in all the forests in the state.
The governor gave the order at the end of an emergency security meeting with traditional rulers, opinion leaders and security agencies in Benin City.
Part of the resolutions which was made available to journalists yesterday, also directed Heads of the 18 Local Government Councils in the state to provide stipends and needed resources for the vigilante and hunters on a monthly basis to comb the forests and flush out the suspected criminals and that traditional rulers would henceforth be held responsible for any act of kidnapping and terrorism that occurs in their domain.
“That everybody currently residing in any forest in Edo State in the guise of camping should vacate such areas with immediate effect. The acting Governor has mandated all acting LGC heads to use all the security apparatus including the police, army, Vigilante groups, hunters and others to forcefully remove any erring groups or individuals within the next ten days.
“That henceforth, any traditional ruler and village head who have collected money from any herdsmen therefore permitting any form of camping or grazing in any Edo State forest should refund such money and ask the herdsmen to leave with immediate effect.”
The resolution also warned that after 10 days from the day of the meeting, traditional rulers would be held responsible for kidnappings in their areas.
SUN NEWS
