Anti-Open Grazing Law: Resign As IGP — HURIWA To Usman Baba

The unwillingness of the Nigeria Police Force to enforce the anti-open grazing law, according to the Human Rights Writers Association of Nigeria, HURIWA, just makes the police look like a Fulani security agency.

As a result, the rights group has urged on state governments to immediately stop financing the police and instead establish a quasi-policing authority to enforce the anti-open grazing law.

Even as more southern states try to checkmate escalating attacks on farmers by claimed armed Fulani herdsmen, HURIWA is outraged that the police hierarchy has maintained what it (HURIWA) termed as a conspiracy silence about its preparedness to pursue violators of the law.

The rights advocacy group demanded that the Inspector General of Police, Alhaji Usman Alkali Baba, either order the Nigerian Police State Commands to enforce anti-open grazing laws in states where the Houses of Assembly have passed the laws, or resign as IGP of the Federal Republic of Nigeria so that he can lead the Fulani Police Force.

HURIWA stated that it is critical for the holder of such a high office to fully comply with the constitutional duties that the office bestows upon him, or else he will be entered into the National Hall of Shame and Infamy.

HURIWA also chastised Attorney-General of the Federation and Minister of Justice, Abubakar Malami, for allegedly turning himself into a gear in the wheel of the legitimately approved laws prohibiting open grazing of cattle.

The rights group asked the States to set up a State wide armed vigilantes to carry out the enforcement of the provisions of the law because the law is constitutionally guaranteed under section 4(7).

HURIWA stated further: “This is a very dangerous threat to Nigeria’s national security and it is even worst because the persons being misused to undermine the security of some states in the Federal Republic of Nigeria are policemen who according to the clear provisions of the constitution are bound to implement lawfully passed laws in all states of the federation and the Ethnic interest of the holder of the office of President should not matter in the enforcement of the laws of Nigeria.

“It is disgraceful that Nigeria Police Force is now an institution led by Ethnic warlords who are affiliates of Fulani herders because investigation showed that herders still graze their animals openly in many states that have enacted the anti-open grazing law without being intercepted by law enforcement agents.”