President Muhammadu Buhari has stated that the bandits responsible for incessant killings in some Nigerian farming communities are persons trained and armed by the late Libyan leader, Col. Muammar Gaddafi.
Speaking yesterday in London during an interaction with the Archbishop of Canterbury, Justin Welby, the president stated that these bandits were set loose following the death of the Pan African leader.
He, however, added that the problem is not new, has nothing to do with religion and has been compounded by social and economic challenges including irresponsible politics.
According to him, herdsmen were originally known to carry sticks and cutlasses, and not sophisticated weapons.
The president, who was responding to the Archbishop’s concerns on clashes between herders and farmers/residents in different parts of Nigeria, added that long-lasting solutions would be found and justice is done to all.
Recall that a former Inspector General of Police, Solomon Arase stated in February 2016, that most of the criminal herdsmen are either from Mali or Chad.
Also, the chairman of the Northern Governors Forum and governor of Borno state, Kashim Shettima had on January 25, 2017, identified the rampaging bandits as immigrants from Senegal and Mali.
The Nigeria Immigration Service puts the number of illegal border routes at 1,400.
Photo Credit: Telegraph