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Niger Police Ban Fulani Herdsmen from Carrying Guns
Laleye Dipo in Minna
The Niger State Police Command has waged a fresh war against Fulani herdsmen in a bid to check kidnapping and cattle rustling.
The police have therefore outlawed the carrying of arms and ammunition by the herdsmen under any guise.
The decision of the police to ban the carrying of arms by the herdsmen followed an increase in the number of firearms recovered from the pastoralists in the last six months.
The state police spokesman, Bala Elikana, told journalists in Minna yesterday that in the last six months, 20 AK-47 rifles, 70 Dane guns, 30 double barrel guns and 1,000 rounds of live ammunition were recovered from the herdsmen.
Elikana said the police are aware that the herdsmen did not need firearms, adding that “what we know they need and carry is sticks and cutlasses, they don’t need guns to guide their animals.”
The police spokesman said any of the herdsmen who contravene the directive would be treated like animals and also prosecuted under the fire arms act of the country.
“Legally we are not aware they are carrying guns, if they are nursing such desires they should drop it or face the full wrath of the law,” adding that “we are aware they carry sticks and cutlasses to guide their cattle and nothing more.”
Bala Elikana said the police command had swung into action to monitor the herdsmen and warned them not to dream of carrying firearms or will be treated like armed robbers.
Elikana said recently the police recovered two AK 47 rifles with 10 rounds of live ammunition from Fulani kidnappers at Agaie-Lapai border.
He said the kidnapped victims were rescued, adding that during the exchange of fire, three of the suspected Fulani herdsmen were fatally injured while two others suffered minor injuries.