THE media are replete with the exploits of Nigerian troops in hunting down and destroying the camps of cattle rustlers who attack herdsmen and dispossess them of their cattle.

Troops of Operation Sharan Daji engaged in anti-cattle rustling, armed banditry, kidnapping and other criminal activities in various states of the North-West have largely succeeded in eliminating several bands of rustlers, destroying their camps and recovering numerous livestock, large quantities of sophisticated arms and ammunition.

The most recent successes of Operation Sharan Daji and One Division of the Nigerian Army in conjunction with other security agencies against cattle rustlers took place in Zamfara, Katsina, Kaduna and Kano states. Considering that cattle rustlers are bandits who delight in robbing with violence and destroying lives, the efforts of the Nigerian Army in hunting them down are commendable.

President Muhammadu Buhari recognised the danger that the cattle rustlers pose to livestock owners and nomadic herdsmen when, in his inaugural speech on 29th May 2016, he harped on his resolve to rid the country of them. He has made good his word, and many of the cattle rustlers, who are said to be foreign infiltrators, have been flushed out.

We are dismayed, however, that the same attention is not being paid to armed herdsmen who have been terrorising farmers, invading communities, burning them down, occupying them, sending their cattle into people’s farms to ravage their crops, killing, robbing, raping, kidnapping and leaving trails of heinous crimes as they go. Reports of these brazen attacks are reported in the media everyday.

In fact, many Nigerians called on President Muhammadu Buhari to speak up on this matter. It took nearly one year into his administration, and the sack of Agatu in Benue State and Ukpabi Nimbo in Enugu State and the death of hundreds of citizens before President Buhari finally directed the Police and security agencies to take all necessary measures to end the menace.

In spite of that directive, the attacks have not stopped. In fact, the Enugu State Governor, Ifeanyi Ugwuanyi, had to rush to an Udi community last week, along with Fulani leaders, to reassure the people that a rumoured imminent invasion by Fulani herdsmen was nothing but mere rumour.

We urge the Federal Government to face the task of flushing out armed herdsmen with the seriousness with which the cattle rustlers have been battered, irrespective of whether the perpetrators are Nigerians or foreigners. We want perpetrators to be brought to book and compensation paid to those who lost relations and property. Herdsmen are not supposed to carry unlicenced arms.

Both herdsmen and farmers must equally be law-abiding, and both sides deserve protection from criminals. Government must secure, without fear or favour, those who produce food for the nation.