Human Rights Writers Association of Nigeria, HURIWA, has said that the refusal of Nigeria Police Force to enforce the anti-open grazing law only makes it (the police) look more of a Fulani security agency.
The rights group, for this reason, called on States governments to immediately stop the funding support to the police and instead, create a quasi policing body basically to enforce the anti-open grazing law.
HURIWA said it was angered that the police hierarchy has maintained what it (HURIWA) described as a conspiratorial silence over its willingness to prosecute violators of the law, even as more southern states move to checkmate rising attacks on farmers by alleged armed Fulani herdsmen.
The rights advocacy group called on the Inspector General of Police, Alhaji Usman Alkali Baba to order the state commands of the Nigerian Police to enforce the anti-open grazing laws in states where the Houses of Assembly had passed the law or he should quit as the IGP of the Federal Republic of Nigeria so he can head the Fulani Police Force.
HURIWA expressed the importance of the holder of such elevated office to comply totally with the constitutional mandates that the office confers on him or he will be inducted into the National Hall of Shame and infamy.
HURIWA further condemned Abubakar Malami, the Attorney-General of the Federation and Minister of Justice, for allegedly constituting himself into a cog in the wheel of the progressive enforcement of the lawfully passed legislation against open grazing of cattle.
The rights group asked the States to set up a State wide armed vigilantes to carry out the enforcement of the provisions of the law because the law is constitutionally guaranteed under section 4(7).
HURIWA stated further: “This is a very dangerous threat to Nigeria’s national security and it is even worst because the persons being misused to undermine the security of some states in the Federal Republic of Nigeria are policemen who according to the clear provisions of the constitution are bound to implement lawfully passed laws in all states of the federation and the Ethnic interest of the holder of the office of President should not matter in the enforcement of the laws of Nigeria.
“It is disgraceful that Nigeria Police Force is now an institution led by Ethnic warlords who are affiliates of Fulani herders because investigation showed that herders still graze their animals openly in many states that have enacted the anti-open grazing law without being intercepted by law enforcement agents.”
