Council of State: How to end insecurity

The Council of State yesterday suggested ways out of the current security challenges confronting the country.

The meeting, presided over by President Muhammadu Buhari, lasted over six hours.

Briefing State House correspondents after the meeting, Jigawa State Governor Abubakar Badaru said the council received a long brief from the National Security Adviser, ranging from farmers/herdsmen clashes, Boko Haram, militancy in the Niger Delta, kidnapping and cattle rustling.

Badaru said the council agreed that the Federal Government’s Social Intervention Programme be used to create more jobs for the youth.

The governor said it was also suggested that the number of outof-school children be reduced; while the youth should be brought into agriculture and other trades.

He said the council also canvassed for collaboration among the security agencies.

He stated: “Farmers/ herdsmen clashes were discussed thoroughly and we learnt that this takes three dimensions. First is the real farmers/ herdsmen clash, where the normal herdsman moves around with his cattle and gets into a farmer’s land and eats up his crops. In some situations, it’s pure banditry. Some of the pastoralists that are not herders attack, steal and kidnap and that has to be defined as such. Some of them rustle cattle and move into the deep forests. And because of the thickness of the forests responses are usually very difficult.

“That was also discussed and solutions were proffered on how to get deep into the forests to check those bandits that hide and continue to commit havoc. The third aspect, usually classified as farmers/herdsmen clashes, is also the settlers and indigenes clashes like in the Southern Kaduna. Some migrant farmers or herders stay in an environment for a very long time and when you have such clashes, they are also classified as farmers/herdsmen classes.

“So, we understand and acknowledge these three aspects and all have different approaches in solving the whole problem. And from the discussions, a lot has been done, solutions have been proffered and the government believes solution is near.”

The council also agreed that funding for agriculture be increased from the current $200 million to $1 billion to aid diversification and ensure food security.

Ogun State Governor Ibikunle Amosun, while addressing State House reporters, said the money would be disbursed through the Anchor Borrower Programme and other existing initiatives.

Anambra State Governor Willey Obiano said the council approved the appointments of two non-legal practitioners to the Federal Judicial Service Commission, a commissioner of the Independent National Electoral Commission and 23 members of the National Population Commission.