Fulani attacks: NSCDC beefs up security at Ekiti boundary communities

The Nigerian Security and Civil Defence Corps (NSCDC), Ekiti State command has announced that it has beefed up security at the boundary communities in Ekiti State and assured that no efforts would be spared to rid the state of rampaging Fulani herdsmen allegedly invading Ekiti towns and killing innocent residents.

The Commandant of NSCDC in Ekiti, Mr Donatus Ikemefuna, who addressed newsmen on Thursday, also warned vandals of public utilities and those diverting petrol products meant for Ekiti to other states to desist.

Ikemefuna said the warning became imperative because “our men are on ground to arrest and bring vandals and those diverting petroleum products to justice.”

Ikemefuna added that one conviction had been obtained on those arrested for the vandalism of government property and for selling adulterated petrol and diverting same products while others were being prosecuted in court.

Speaking in Ado Ekiti, on Thursday, Ikemefuna disclosed that the command was fortifying border towns like Emure, Omuo, Eda Oniyo, Efon, Ijero, Ikere Ekiti and other towns sharing boundaries with the neighbouring states by creating more outposts from the existing divisions to check the activities of cattle rustlers and other assailants.

The Commandant added that his command was not oblivious of the challenges of insecurity in the remote towns and villages, saying the new outposts would help in spreading the security dragnets and tighten noose on those with nefarious intentions in the state.

“When I came about two months ago, I met with the traditional rulers during my visits to all the divisions. The request from all of them had been that more outposts should be created in the interior; I mean the hinterland to ward off attacks.

“We will deploy more men to these outposts to ensure that security is enhanced. We are desirous to make security tighter. We want to make Ekiti a no-go-area for criminals and this we are pursuing with our sister agencies.”

Ikemefuna said his men in the Department of Anti-Vandalism were undergoing regular training and were well positioned to curtail the activities of those destroying critical government infrastructure and assets.

He said the command was in partnership with the University of Ibadan for the training of experts in Peace and Conflict Management for the settlement of civil matters from the public, rather than going to court.

“The command has handled about 1,160 cases in the alternative dispute resolution effort of this command and 1,103 have been resolved amicably. Some of these cases bordered on land dispute, marital problem, business transaction, among others.

“Members of the public now have confidence in us and they come to us to settle their cases rather than going to court,” Ikemefuna said.

People suspected to be Fulani herdsmen had a couple of weeks ago invaded Ipao Ekiti in Ikole Local government and killed two persons, while cases of cattle rustling had also been reported in some towns.