A Delta State High Court sitting in Asaba has on Tuesday, May 17, sentenced two Fulani herdsmen to 20 years in prison over gross violation of the constitution.
The two herdsmen were sentenced to jail for unlawful possession of firearms.
An offence preferred against them by the Attorney-General of Delta State, Peter Mrakpor, and punishable under section 3 (1) of the robbery and firearms (Special Provisions) Act Laws of the Federation Republic of Nigeria 2010.
An offence preferred against them by the Attorney-General of Delta State, Peter Mrakpor and punishable under section 3(1) of the robbery and firearms (Special Provisions) Act Laws of the Federation Republic of Nigeria 2010.
In the past few months, there have been series of cases where herdsmen have been fingered to be responsible in killing villagers and farmers, who resist their cattle’s from grazing in their farm lands.
President Muhammadu Buhari, who is the grand patron of the Fulani herdsmen has been accused of keeping mute on the lingering crisis, while ordering the military to crush militants who blow up pipeline installations.
After due pressure from political analysts and security experts, the president was said to have ordered the military chiefs to fish out those herdsmen responsible for the countless attacks.
The military in reaction to the president’s directive read the riot act, assuring the public of their safety, as they were going to work round the clock to fish out those culprits.
On Tuesday, two Fulani herdsmen; Hassan Abidu and Yakubu Salem, suspected to be members of a group of armed nomads terrorizing indigenes of Delta State, especially farmers, were convicted and jailed with hard labour.
The Nigeria Police Command in Delta State had in February paraded a gang of six Fulani herdsmen who kidnapped and murdered a traditional ruler in Ubulu-Uku, Aniocha South Local Government Area of the State.
Aside the heinous crime, suspected Fulani herdsmen have been reported to have stormed Benue State in Agatu Local Government, killing over 300 people and destroying properties worth million of Naira.
Other States they have attacked are; Oyo, Taraba, Enugu, and Kaduna, with scores of indigenes killed in cold blood.
The 2 convicts were sentenced to 10 years imprisonment each with hard labour and without an option of fine.
According to the prosecution, on the 23rd day of February, 2015 at about 06:00 hours, the Ibusa Police Division, in Oshimili North council area of the state, received a distress call that a group of suspected Fulani boys, numbering about six were sighted around Power Line, in the community, armed with dangerous weapons including firearms.
It took a team of Anti-Robbery Squad who responded to the distress call later and arrested Hassan Abidu and Yakubu Salem, who were in possession of two single barrel guns without license, which they claimed they used for hunting.
They also claimed that they did not know that it was an offense to carry arms without license, the prosecution counsel disclosed.
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