Rep accuses Buhari of inaction over herdsmen attacks

A member of the House of Representatives, Mr. Dickson Tarkighir, has accused President Muhammadu Buhari of not doing enough to curtail the threat to lives and property by herdsmen in the country.

Speaking with The Guardian in Abuja, the lawmaker, who is a member of the All Progressives Congress (APC) representing Makurdi/Guma Federal Constituency of Benue State, urged President Buhari to take stiff action on herdsmen responsible for the destruction of lives and property across the country.

The lawmaker, who is the sponsor of the Cattle Ranch Bill, which has passed the first reading stage on the floor of the House of Representatives, argued that rather than the much-touted grazing reserve routes, the establishment of cattle ranches remains the panacea to the incessant clashes between herdsmen and farmers in the country.

Said he: “I must say that the incessant attacks by herdsmen on communities across the country has brought a lot of anxiety. Government needs to act fast. I am surprised that the President has been silent over the killings in Agatu in Taraba, Kogi, Nasarawa, especially the north central valley.

“The President has said nothing. People are beginning to think that his presidency has emboldened herdsmen to attack communities across the country because he is a Fulani man who also owns a cattle ranch. The President is supposed to lead by example.

“Let him show cattle rearers where his ranch is, show them that this is the best way to graze cattle. If the President can ranch his own cattle, that is the reason why he should preach the idea of having ranches and ensure that those who cannot afford this are given incentives to do this.

“The President has condemned the attacks in Brussels and Paris by terrorists, but he has not come out to condemn the attack on Agatu and people are reading a whole lot of meanings to this. He has not proffered a solution since these crises started.”