Presidential spokesman, Garba Shehu, has said that the notorious Fulani herdsmen, who have been responsible for several attacks on innocent citizens, are criminal gangs but not terrorists.
Shehu who said this in an interview on Channels TV on Thursday also mentioned that the government did not declare herdsmen, who kill people, as terrorists because they are “only criminal gangs”.
However, he added that security agencies were dealing with criminal herdsmen according to the law.
“There is a difference between a criminal activity and a terrorist activity. Yes, some Fulani herdsmen are a criminal gang and they are being dealt with according to the law,” he said.
“But IPOB like Boko Haram has a territory they have carved out to themselves …as a sovereign state of its own…. They have shown the willingness to invade other neighboring states. They have raised concerns in neighboring Kogi and Benue states. They have said they are interested in taking over Bayelsa and Rivers. That is exactly what Boko Haram has done. This is not acceptable to the law of the country.”
Last Friday, the defence headquarters declared the Indigenous People of Biafra (IPOB) a “militant terrorist” organization. South-east governors followed suit, proscribing the group.
Severe criticisms assailed the action of the military and the governors over its legality.
But on Wednesday, a federal high court in Abuja gave an order outlawing the group.
IG OF POLICE STORMS ABIA STATE, MAY DECLARE NNAMDI KANU WANTED
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