A coalition of Civil Society Organizations (CSOs) has condemned the persistent attacks on communities across the Southeast by suspected Fulani herdsmen and bandits, calling for the immediate arrest and prosecution of the perpetrators.

The coalition, which includes the Rule of Law and Accountability Advocacy Centre (RULAAC), Nchekwa Ndi Ogbenye Foundation, ÓNÚRÚBÉ Coalition Against Gender-Based Violence, Sisters With A Goal Initiative (SWAG), Vision Spring Initiatives, Better Community Life Initiative, CEHRAWS, and Vivacious Development Initiative (VIDI), issued a joint statement on Saturday expressing deep concern over the rising violence.

The CSOs accused security agencies in the region of laxity and selective enforcement, alleging that attacks by herdsmen often go unaddressed.

The statement read: “We, the undersigned Civil Society Organizations in the Southeast, express concern over the continued and escalating attacks by armed bandits and herdsmen on our communities across the five southeastern states of Abia, Anambra, Ebonyi, Enugu, and Imo. These attacks are not isolated incidents but part of a broader pattern of violence and impunity that has gone largely unaddressed by the Nigerian state and its security apparatus.”

They criticized law enforcement for its rapid response to alleged IPOB/ESN camps while demonstrating “alarming inertia” in responding to violent incursions by herdsmen. According to the coalition, communities have experienced loss of lives, destruction of farmlands, and displacement, with minimal state intervention.

The CSOs highlighted recent attacks: In Abia State, communities in Isuikwuato, Umunneochi, and Obingwa LGAs have suffered attacks, kidnappings, and farm destruction by suspected herdsmen.

In Anambra State, Ayamelum and Orumba North LGAs continue to face violence, causing farmers to abandon their lands.

In Ebonyi State, Amegu Village, Nkalaha community in Ishielu LGA has witnessed deadly attacks.

In Enugu State, Eha-Amufu and Uzo-Uwani communities have reported invasions resulting in deaths and displacements.

In Imo State, Okigwe zone has experienced farmland destruction and attacks, yet there have been no significant arrests or prosecutions.

The coalition also condemned the repeated blockades and attacks along the Owerri – Ngor Okpala – Aba road, where suspected herdsmen have reportedly killed passengers and kidnapped travelers in public commercial vehicles.

The statement added: “These attacks persist in a climate of apparent selective enforcement of the law. Communities attempting to defend themselves from destruction and violence have faced retaliatory state actions, including arrests and forced financial compensations to herders, often at the behest of state officials prioritizing vested interests over justice.”

The CSOs referenced an incident in 2020 where residents of Ezinihitte Mbaise in Imo State were reportedly forced to pay compensation to herders after their cattle were harmed while destroying farmlands. Despite the loss to farmers, no action was taken against the herders.

The coalition argued that the seeming reluctance of law enforcement to prosecute armed herdsmen, alongside the destructive operations in the Southeast, violates Section 14(2)(b) of the 1999 Constitution which states that “the security and welfare of the people shall be the primary purpose of government.” They also cited Section 42, which prohibits discrimination and selective application of justice.

The rights groups further criticized the security checkpoints across the Southeast, accusing operatives of converting them into extortion points while ignoring the activities of herdsmen.

“Incidences of extortion, brutality, and harassment at these checkpoints remain largely uninvestigated, even when widely reported. The Federal Government’s silence, coupled with its failure to proscribe or designate armed herdsmen as terrorists under the Terrorism (Prevention and Prohibition) Act, 2022, despite their well-documented acts of terror, further erodes public trust in state institutions.”

The coalition called for security forces in the Southeast to treat criminal herdsmen with the same urgency and intensity as they do with other non-state actors.

They also urged the National Human Rights Commission, Legal Aid Council, and Nigerian Bar Association to intensify legal support for victims of herdsmen attacks and those unlawfully detained in connection with community self-defense efforts. (Sunday Vanguard)