… Demand action against herdsmen attacks

By Kingsley Omonobi

Civil Society Organizations (CSOs) across the South-East region of Nigeria have accused security agencies of operating with a bias, alleging that while Indigenous People of Biafra (IPOB) activists are routinely targeted with swift and forceful action, armed herdsmen responsible for violent attacks on communities are ignored.

In a joint statement, the CSOs expressed deep concern over what they described as selective law enforcement that undermines justice, fuels insecurity, and leaves victims of herdsmen violence without protection or recourse.

The organizations, including RULAAC, SWAG Initiative, and the Nchekwa Ndi Ogbenye Foundation, documented a disturbing pattern of attacks across the five South-East states, with incidents ranging from killings and kidnappings to widespread destruction of farmland.

They criticized both state and federal authorities for their failure to uphold constitutional obligations, demanding immediate action to investigate, arrest, and prosecute perpetrators of herdsmen-related violence while ensuring fair and equal application of the law to all groups.

The statement read: “We, the undersigned CSOs in the Southeast, express profound concern over the continued and escalating attacks by armed bandit herdsmen on our communities across the five southeastern states of Nigeria.

“These attacks are not isolated incidents but part of a broader pattern of violence and impunity that has gone largely unaddressed by the Nigerian state and its security apparatus.

“While law enforcement agencies routinely undertake swift and heavily armed operations against alleged IPOB/ESN camps, we observe with alarm the contrasting inertia with which they respond or fail to respond to the persistent and violent incursions by armed herdsmen.

“Communities suffer losses of lives, destruction of farmlands, and displacement, with little or no meaningful state intervention.

“Recent attacks paint a disturbing picture of escalating violence. In Abia State, communities in Isuikwuato, Umunneochi Obingwa LGAs have repeatedly decried attacks, kidnappings, and farm destruction by suspected herdsmen, with little or no response from law enforcement.

“In Anambra State, parts of Ayamelum and Orumba North LGAs continue to face herdsmen-related violence, forcing farmers to abandon their lands.

“In Ebonyi State, the Amegu Village, Nkalaha community in Ishielu LGA, has witnessed killings and deadly attacks by suspected Fulani herders.

“In Enugu State, recent invasions in Eha-Amufu and Uzo-Uwani have left scores dead and displaced, with survivors alleging complete abandonment by security forces.

“In Imo State, several incidents of farmland destruction and attacks by suspected herders have been reported in the Okigwe zone, yet no significant arrests or prosecutions have been made.

“Also, for the second time within a month, suspected Fulani herdsmen have laid siege on Owerri – Ngor Okpala – Aba road, killed people, and kidnapped passengers in public commercial vehicles.

“These attacks persist in a climate of apparent selective enforcement of the law.

“Communities who attempt to defend themselves from destruction and violence have faced retaliatory state actions, including arrests and forced financial compensations to herders.

“In some cases, these punitive actions are executed at the behest of state government officials seeking to appease vested interests rather than uphold justice.

“This pattern raises legal and constitutional concerns. Section 14(2)(b) of the 1999 Constitution (as amended) provides that “the security and welfare of the people shall be the primary purpose of government.”

“Furthermore, Section 42 prohibits discrimination on any basis, including selective application of justice.

“The seeming reluctance of law enforcement to prosecute armed herdsmen, juxtaposed with their destructive and unrestrained operations in the Southeast, suggests a breach of the principle of equal protection under the law.

‘It also raises questions about the neutrality of federal law enforcement agencies and the militarization of the Southeast, which now hosts an excessive number of security checkpoints, particularly in civilian areas; an act inconsistent with the principles of federalism and civil liberties.

“Incidences of extortion, brutality, and harassment at these checkpoints remain largely uninvestigated, even when widely reported in mainstream and social media.

“The Federal Government’s continued silence on these concerns, including its failure to proscribe or designate armed herdsmen as terrorists under the Terrorism (Prevention and Prohibition) Act, 2022, despite their widely documented acts of terror further undermines public confidence in state institutions.

“We demand the following urgent actions: That state governors and federal security agencies ensure the equitable enforcement of all extant criminal laws against any individual or group regardless of ethnicity or affiliation found culpable of violence, destruction, or displacement.

“That the Nigeria Police Force and other law enforcement agencies immediately prioritize the investigation, arrest, and prosecution of perpetrators of herdsmen-related violence in the Southeast.

“That the Federal Government demilitarize civilian spaces in the Southeast and addresses credible allegations of misconduct by state agents, including extortion and abuse of human rights at checkpoints.

“That Southeast governors immediately convene regional security summits with affected communities, traditional rulers, civil society, and other relevant stakeholders to develop actionable community-based strategies to protect lives and property.
“That the National Human Rights Commission, Legal Aid Council, and Nigerian Bar Association intensify oversight and legal support for victims of herdsmen attacks and unlawful detentions linked to retaliatory community actions.

‘Our people deserve the protection of the law and the fairness of its application. The continued failure of state and federal institutions to confront this threat undermines the integrity of our democracy and the rule of law.”