Osinbajo to chair 10-man committee set up by National Economic Council to address herdsmen crisis

VICE president Professor Yemi Osinbajo is to chair a 10-man panel just formed by the National Economic Council (Nec) to look into the nagging and incessant problem of violence by Fulani cattle herdsmen across the country.

Over recent years, Nigeria has been bedevilled by the constant menace of Fulani cattle herdsmen attacking local farming communities, often leading to dozens of deaths. These heavily armed pastoralists, who now carry AK47 assault rifles, clash with farmers over grazing rights and damage to crops.

Last week, the matter came to a head after a brutal herdsmen attack in Benue State left about 80 people dead and sparked an international outrage. In response to the outrage the attack caused, the Nec has set up a 10-member committee to work with the federal government towards ending the killings.

Set up yesterday, the committee is made up of Professor Osinbajo and nine state governors. Governor Abdullahi Ganduje of Kano state, said the committee will work in commensurate terms with the commitment to end the violence.

He added: “On the farmers and herdsmen crisis, a council constituted a working group to collaborate with the federal government in addressing the issues of impunity regarding killings and violence. The committee consisting of nine governors under the chairmanship of the vice president will work in accordance with commensurate commitment to ensure that all perpetrators of violence are brought to book.

“The committee consists of governors of Zamfara, Kaduna, Adamawa, Benue, Taraba, Edo, Plateau, Ebonyi and Oyo States. The committee has started its meeting right after this Nec meeting.”