The Sultan of Sokoto, Muhammad Sa’ad Abubakar III has unequivocally condemned marauding herdsmen who are killing people and causing havoc all over the country.
The Sultan made this remark while speaking at at the 2017 National Security Summit on Farmers/Pastoralist clashes, kidnapping and other forms of violent crimes and bank security in Nigeria in Abuja yesterday.
“We don’t support anybody picking up arms to kill another person. That person is a criminal, whether you are a Fulani herdsmen or Yoruba or Ibo or from Middle Belt.
“We must be honest with ourselves. Our problem is not with organizing symposia, summits, and fora on challenges of security. Our problem is non-implementation of the several decisions and recommendations from such summits due to dishonesty and selfishness,’’ the Sultan stressed.
“You cannot claim freedom of expression and insult everybody; you cannot claim freedom of religion and cause problems.”
“What is the role of the Nigerian Police Force? Are they being apolitical? Do we take instructions from some political leaders and refuse instructions from others.
“My advice to security agencies, Police officers, military officers and other Para-military organizations is that we must play by the book. Criticisms should not be seen as disloyalty.
“Political leaders should help this country. Let all politicians after elections, keep aside sentiments and forge ahead. Political corruption, hunger, unemployment by bad government is also security threat.’’
The Inspector-General of Police, Ibrahim Idris said the police need to recruit 155,000 into the force to meet the United Nations’ ration of one policeman to 400.
“The absence of recruitment of able-bodied Nigerians between 2011 and 2016 has left a huge gap in the manpower needs of the force due to attrition as a result of retirements, death and resignations.
“If this requirement is to be taken into consideration, the Police force needs to recruit at least 31,000 officers yearly for a period of at least five years,’’ the IGP said.
Other speakers at the event included the Ooni of Ife, Oba Adeyeye Enitan Ogunwusi, Interior Minister, Lt. General Abdurahman Dambazau who represented Acting President Yemi Osinbajo, Governor Samuel Othorm of Benue State and Gombe State Governor, Ibrahim Dankwabo.
