Despite the ferocious wave of attacks on indigenous communities by rampaging herdsmen in some parts of the country, the Federal Government has ruled out the possibility of deploying military option to quell such violent activities. It said since the police have not been overwhelmed by the attackers, military option is not on the table. Minister of Interior, Gen. Abdulrahman Dambazau (retd.), stated this on a Sunday midnight television programme “Question Time” on Channels TV.

He said: “We must protect the country which is the main function of the police. The Civil Defence are there to complement them too.

“This is a non-military issue that borders on law and order. It is not every security issue that you call in the military. It is the responsibility of the police to maintain peace. I believe that if we put the police in proper position in terms of discharging its functions, then there would be no need for military option. The police are equal to the task. If you have to deploy the army, then you are going above board (sic). In any case, I do not even have the power to deploy the military for anything. It is only when the situation gets out of hand that you invite the military.”

According to the Global Terrorism Index 2015 report, “Fulani militants” killed 1,229 people in 2014 – up from 63 in 2013 – making them the “fourth most deadly terrorist group” globally.

•Excerpted from a Vanguard report. Photo shows Dambazau.