A group of Civil Society Organisations (CSO) in the Southeast has called on the Inspector-General Of Police, Kayode Egbetokun, the Federal Government of Nigeria and governors that make up the southeast to, as a matter of urgent check the incessant herdsmen attacks in that region.
According to the group, it was concerned over the continued and escalating attacks by bandit herdsmen on communities across the five south-eastern states of Nigeria, Abia, Anambra, Ebonyi, Enugu, and Imo.
The group opined that these attacks were 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.
It further stated: “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, and 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 herdsmen have laid siege on Owerri – Ngor Okpala – Aba road, killed people, and kidnapped passengers in public commercial vehicles.”
The group explained that these attacks persist in a climate of apparent selective enforcement of the law. The group mentioned that communities that attempted to defend themselves from destruction and violence have faced retaliatory state actions, including arrests and forced financial compensation 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. For example, in 2020, residents of Ezinihitte Mbaise in Imo State were reportedly forced by state actors to pay compensation to herders whose cattle were harmed after destroying local farmlands. No restitution was made to the farmers, nor were the herders prosecuted for trespass or destruction under the criminal law and relevant land use statutes,” said the group.
The group further noted that this pattern raises legal and constitutional concerns.
“Section 14(2)(b) of the 1999 Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria (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,” argued the group.
The group maintained that 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 added: “It also raises questions about the neutrality of federal law enforcement agencies and the militarisation 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.”
The group demanded 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.
It also demanded: “That the Nigeria Police Force and other law enforcement agencies immediately prioritise the investigation, arrest, and prosecution of perpetrators of herdsmen-related violence in the Southeast.
“The Federal Government demilitarises civilian spaces in the Southeast and addresses credible allegations of misconduct by state agents, including extortion and abuse of human rights at checkpoints.
“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.
“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.”
The signed group members are, Nchekwa Ndi Ogbenye Foundation, RULAAC, ÓNÚRÚBÉ Coalition against gender based violence, Sisters With A Goal Initiative (SWAG), Vision Spring Initiatives, Better Community Life Initiative, CEHRAWS and Vivacious Development Initiative (VIDI).
