Olaide Oyelude, Katsina
Herdsmen were on Thursday directed not to carry arms whenever they were in public places in the North-West states.
Volunteer groups known as Yansakai were equally banned.
The volunteer groups were directed to surrender all weapons in their possession.
These were parts of the four-point resolutions arrived at after a four-and half-hour meeting between 11 Northern state governors and the Inspector-General of Police, Muhammed Adamu, in Katsina State.
Governor Aminu Masari of Katsina State, who read the communique after the meeting, said efforts would also be made to ensure that herdsmen had access to improved breed of cattle.
Masari said, “Herdsmen and their family members should be allowed to attend markets and worship places, as well as attend daily activities provided that they don’t carry arms into the public places.
“Herdsmen should conduct themselves and live peacefully with one another. Those who stole animals should return them through government or the Miyetti Allah Cattle Breeders Association.
“Repentant bandits, including the Yansakai, should surrender arms and ammunition in their possession to the authorities and to release people that are in their captivity.”
The Inspector-General of Police said the meeting would be reconvened in one month to review how far the resolutions had gone in restoring peace to the North-West.
“The meeting is successful because we were expecting about six Governors but we ended up having 11 which shows that everybody is concerned about security. And the deliberation and resolution we got here are so inspiring in the sense that everybody is desirous of peace. Both the Fulani in the bush and the people in the town, everybody is desirous of peace.