In recent times, the news of herdsmen kidnapping and killing innocent people has become a recurring theme in Nigeria. Sadly, the menace of herdsmen violence continues to escalate, with little or no significant action taken by the government to put a stop to it. The latest case is the kidnap of eight people and killing of a passenger on a bus in Delta State.
According to reports, the incident occurred along the Ughelli-Patani Road in Delta State. The herdsmen reportedly blocked the road and opened fire on a commercial bus, killing one of the passengers and abducting eight others. The whereabouts of the kidnapped victims remain unknown, and their families are left to wonder if they will ever see their loved ones again.
This recent incident is just one of the many attacks that have been carried out by herdsmen in different parts of Nigeria. The attacks range from kidnapping to raping women and girls, destroying farmlands, and killing innocent people. The herdsmen are armed with sophisticated weapons, making them a formidable force to contend with.
The government’s response to the herdsmen menace has been less than impressive. There have been calls for the government to ban open grazing and provide alternative means of livelihood for the herdsmen. However, these calls have largely fallen on deaf ears, and the herdsmen continue to carry out their nefarious activities with impunity.
The lack of action by the government has led to the rise of self-help groups, who have taken it upon themselves to protect their communities from herdsmen attacks. These groups, however, have been met with stiff resistance from the government, who see them as a threat to national security.
It is high time the government took decisive action to end the herdsmen menace in Nigeria. The lives of innocent Nigerians should not be put at risk because of the government’s inability to take action. The government must ban open grazing and provide alternative means of livelihood for the herdsmen. Also, security agencies must be adequately equipped to tackle the herdsmen and bring them to justice.
In conclusion, the herdsmen’s kidnap of eight people and killing of a passenger on a bus in Delta State is yet another reminder of the security challenges facing Nigeria. The government must rise to the occasion and take decisive action to put an end to the herdsmen menace before it gets out of hand. The lives of Nigerians are too valuable to be sacrificed on the altar of political expediency.
