President Muhammadu Buhari says it is wrong to attribute the killings in the country to clashes between Fulani and other tribes, as the conflict between farmers and herdsmen has a long history.
Speaking during an interview with Aliyu Mustapha of VOA in Washington D.C., he noted that those making such allegations know that the herdsmen only carry sticks.
The President, who said the killings have nothing to do with religious or ethnic clash, also condemned reports that Christians were being killed in Nigeria.
“It is wrong to say the conflict is between Fulani and Tiv or other tribes, like in Taraba. What of Zamfara, where more people were killed than in Taraba and Benue put together?” he questioned.
“People need to understand that it is mischief that makes people bring in religion or ethnicity.”
President Buhari, however, highlighted some of the measures being taken by his administration to curb the menace of insecurity in the country.
He revealed that he has ordered the police to recruit 6000 more personnel and that they should recruit across the 774 local government areas in the country.
The President admitted that his administration has yet to conclude what it is doing as insecurity remains a problem, including the Boko Haram insurgency in the North East.
He said, “The worst thing that Boko Haram is doing now is to get small girls, hypnotise and put explosive devices on them to go and detonate in mosques, churches, motor parks and markets and kill people.
“However, they are not able to take over any territory now, although, even today, I read in some newspapers that Boko Haram (terrorists) are still holding territory.”
President Buhari maintained that although the insurgents may be hiding somewhere in Sambisa Forest in Borno State, the military has prevented them from coming out.
Amid the calls for the creation of state police in the country, he said he wants the Nigerian Constitution to be consulted first and see what it says whether or not it should be allowed.
The President, however, stated that he wasn’t convinced yet and wondered how state governments that were unable to pay workers’ salaries would run a police organisation.
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