Abiola Ajimobi, the governor of Oyo State, has declared that marauding Fulani herdsmen in various parts of Nigeria are more dangerous than the dreaded Boko Haram insurgents.
The governor, therefore, charged security agencies to rise to the challenge by checking the excesses of the armed Fulani herdsmen.
Ajimobi spoke on Thursday, April 20, 2017 in Ibadan, the state capital, when the Deputy Inspector-General (DIG) for South West Zone, Foluso Adebanjo, visited him.
Represented by the deputy governor of the southwestern state, Otunba Moses Adeyemo, the governor said, “Our first priority is the security of life and property. Before our assuming office, Oyo State was rated as a notorious state. Now, it is one of the most secure states in Nigeria.”
While acknowledging the police and other security agencies for their effective collaboration, Governor Ajimobi urged them to do more to find a lasting solution to the herdsmen attacks, stressing that “they are more dangerous than Boko Haram insurgents.”
He said that the earlier something serious was done about the activities of the herdsmen the better for Nigeria.
He lauded President Muhammadu Buhari for his interest in shoring up staff strength of the police.
Earlier, DIG Adebanjo told the governor that the federal government would ultimately recruit 30,000 officers to strengthen security architecture of the country.
The police chief said that the security agency was understaffed.
The government had last year employed 10,000 policemen, but Adebanjo hinted that 30,000 officers would be recruited before the end of the year.
