Ondo State Governor, Oluwarotimi Akeredolu has stated that terrorism should not be branded as banditry.
He said those involved in various criminal activities of kidnapping, bombing and assault on the people in some parts of the country, which are being referred to as banditry must be appropriately addressed as terrorists.
He blamed the porous state of the borders for the influx of illegal aliens most of whom are responsible for the nefarious activities in various parts of the country.
Akeredolu said that the activities of blowing up railway lines must also be addressed as terrorism and the perpetrators treated as same.
The Governor spoke at the 27th Nigerian Economic Summit in Abuja with the theme: “Securing our future: The fierce urgency of now.”
Akeredolu was in the company of his Kaduna counterpart, Malian Nasir El-Rufai and other panelists at the summit which centered on addressing the security challenges in the country.
The Governor maintained that a nation with failed security and justice systems is set to fail.
He proffered multi-level policing as the best way of securing the nation lamenting the increasing wave of insecurity in the country.
“In Ondo State, we don’t have terrorism. Our problem is farmer/herder clashes and kidnaps for ransom. We have drug abuse and agitation for self-determination. We have always preached multi-level policing in Ondo State. We believe in layers of security,” he said.
The Governor, who explained that although there are criminal trespasses that can be treated by the state, stressed that before the Amotekun corps was established, the Police were not always ready to make an arrest.
“Yes, you have criminal trespass. It should be treated by the state. All we had before Amotekun was the police that had the duty to arrest and were not prepared to make an arrest. Things are changing and have changed in Ondo state.
“Today, if you trespass on other people’s land, the Amotekun will go after you and arrest you. They pay compensations to the farmers and when they fail they are in court. It is the only way you can send signals to people.
“When you commit a crime and the hands of law don’t catch up with you, another person will repeat it. I can assure you that when you do not have an effective policing system, there is little or nothing a Governor can do. And the criminal trial is taking too long,” Akeredolu said.
On the recent ban on Open Grazing in Ondo State, Governor Akeredolu said nomadic pastoralist is a culture that must be discouraged in the interest of those involved.
He noted that the issue of grazing routes was not a welcome conversation, adding that those were issues of the past that must not be brought back to the fore.
”Speaking for those of us who have put in place anti-open grazing law. We have our reasons and we have no apologies.
“Grazing routes? Grazing routes to where? It is not going to work. There are things we had in the Past. Don’t let us imagine it now. Time changes. Grazing with AK 47 is an assault. Ban on open grazing, we are doing it effectively in Ondo State.
“Nomadic pastoralist is not a new thing. There were nomadic farmers all over the world. I know of people, high ranking who have ranches today. They can showcase their cows.
“Why are we pushing these people out? It is a culture that must be discouraged in the interest of those who are involved. Even with the President’s order that anyone with Ak47 should be arrested, how many have been arrested?”
