Insurgents Now Disguise As Herdsmen, Governors Declare

Some concerned state governors in the country have raised an alarm over the infiltration of their states by suspected mercenaries posing as Fulani cattle rearers.

 * Gov. Akpabio told FG that Insurgents are now parading themselves as herdsmen
The state governors who raised the concern about the latest development in the country’s long battle against insurgency at the National Economic Council (NEC) meeting presided over by Vice President Namadi Sambo, at the presidential villa, Abuja on Thursday, are Adams Oshiomhole (Edo), Emmanuel Uduaghan (Delta) and Idris Wada (Kogi).
According to the governors, the bandits may unleash terror on their states and other states because they are different from Fulani and well-armed with AK-47 rifle.

Briefing newsmen at the State House in Abuja after the NEC meeting, alongside his Benue counterpart, Gabriel Suswam, Akwa Ibom State governor Godswill Akpabio said: “Comprehensive discussion was made in the council and the governors of Delta and Edo states say that people came into their states in trucks without cattle. Cattle grazers move around with cattle but these insurgents now come to town in their large numbers and in trailer loads.

“The governor of Kogi also confirmed that they have cordoned off an area because these people came in four trucks. They have asked security to cordon them. It is actually a cause for concern because mercenaries have taken over; what is happening is that this is beyond the Fulanis that we know and who are part of us. These are different crops of people either parading as Fulani or people who are Fulani from displaced areas because they are heavily armed.

“The Fulani around us here are never heavily armed. Even their women carry AK 47. So these are not the regular Fulani we are used to who are within our country. These are people moving into our country with a mission we are yet to know. But the NSA assured us that serious actions are being taken to address and contain these people who are moving into Nigeria from destinations that we do not even know.”

The governors who attended the NEC meeting are Godswill Akpabio (Akwa Ibom), Gabriel Suswam (Benue), Jonah Jang (Plateau), Ibrahim Dankwambo (Gombe), Martins Elechi (Ebonyi), Olusegun Mimiko (Ondo), Emmanuel Uduaghan (Delta), Willie Obiano (Anambra), Liyel Imoke (Cross River) and Idris Wada (Kogi). Others sent their deputies to represent them.