I can’t deal with violent herdsmen because I’m one of them: Buhari

President Muhammadu Buhari has confirmed his lukewarmness to deal with violent herdsmen terrorising citizens nationwide.

Mr Buhari who confirmed this in an interview with Arise Television aired on Thursday said governor Samuel Ortom of Benue State was right in accusing him of refusing to deal with the problematic herders because he is one of them.

“The governor of Benue said I cannot discipline the cattle rearers because I am one of them,” the president said. “I cannot deny that I am one of them.”

The Nigerian leader also said he has instructed that old grazing routes be reopened, a directive that has been rejected by the 17 Southern state governors.

Herdsmen largely from Fulani extraction have been accused of spearheading rising insecurity bedeviling the nation.

In the North they have been fingered and named as bandits who have gone rampage in abducting schoolchildren for ransom while in the South, state and non-state actors have issued eviction notices to them.