by Azeez Adeniyi

Sultan of Sokoto, Muhammad Sa’ad Abubakar has said Fulani herdsmen killing innocent people are criminals.

Abubakar said this while peaking at the 2017 National Security Summit on Farmers/Pastoralist clashes, kidnapping and other forms of violent crimes.

The Sultan said, “We don’t support anybody picking up arms to kill another person. That person is a criminal, whether you are a Fulani herdsmen or Yoruba or Ibo or from Middle Belt.

[Read Also: KILLER HERDSMEN SHOULD BE TREATED AS CRIMINALS, SULTAN TELLS FG]

“We must be honest with ourselves. Our problem is not with organizing symposia, summits, and fora on challenges of security. Our problem  is non-implementation of the several decisions and recommendations from such summits due to dishonesty and selfishness.’’ 

He added that national security should be placed above individual liberty.

He added, “You cannot claim freedom of expression and insult everybody; you cannot claim freedom of religion and cause problems.”

He drew the attention of the gathering to other security challenges, apart from  the herdsmen/farmers menace.

“What is the role of the Nigerian Police Force? Are they being apolitical? Do we take instructions from some political leaders and refuse instructions from others.

“My advice to security agencies, Police officers, military officers and other Para-military organizations is that we must play by the book. Criticisms should not be seen as disloyalty.

“Political leaders should help this country. Let all politicians after elections, keep aside sentiments and forge ahead. Political corruption, hunger, unemployment by bad government is also security threat.’’