The Federal Government has said it would not deploy the military in halting the rampaging Fulani herdsmen, noting that the Police still have the capacity to contain the situation.

Gen. Abdulrahman Dambazau (retd), Minister of Interior,  while speaking on a Sunday midnight Channels Television programme, “Question Time” said the government would not be using the military to bring the situation under control.

 In recent times, rampaging herdsmen have killed scores of people in several villages across the country. Suspected Fulani herdsmen had attacked several communities across the country killing scores of residents and destroying farmlands.

The Nimbo Community in Uzo-Uwani Local Government of Enugu State and Agatu in Benue State are clear examples of communities where the suspected herdsmen unleashed mayhem leaving in their trail mass destruction of lives and property.

 He said that the main function of the police is to protect the country while the Civil Defence are to complement them.

Gen. Dambazu said that it is a non-military issue that borders on law and order, adding that It is not every security issue that you call in the military.

“It is the responsibility of the police to maintain peace. I believe that if we put the police in proper position in terms of discharging its functions, then there would be no need for military option,” he said.

 “The police are equal to the task. In any case, I do not even have the power to deploy the military for anything. It is only when the situation gets out of hand that you invite the military,” he said.

Global Terrorism Index 2015 report shows that “Fulani militants” killed 1,229 people in 2014,  up from 63 in 2013, making them the “fourth most deadly terrorist group” in the world.