Suspected herdsmen kill village head, youth in Nasarawa over fish pond

• New Immigration rules will checkmate clashes, says Presidency
• Wike lauds Air Force for dislodging Boko Haram terrorists

Suspected herdsmen have killed a village head of Oshugu in Uloko development area of Nasarawa Local Council, Nasarawa State, alongside a youth. One of the villagers, who claimed anonymity, alleged that the suspected attackers were people of Ayile village and Fulani herdsmen.

Besides, an eyewitness told The Guardian that four days before the attack, the village head in company of other members of the village went for a fishing exercise in a pond.

“When the villagers got to the pond, they met some Fulani people who threatened that they should stay away because the pond had been sold to them by one Mr. Umanu from Uloko,” he said.

He alleged that the matter was reported to the Nasarawa Police Station and two Fulani herdsmen were arrested and others with two AK 47 rifles but were later released by the police under the influenced of a high profile personality.

Meanwhile, the Public Relations Officer (PRO) of Nasarawa Police Command, Deputy Superintendent of Police (DSP) John Kennedy, confirmed the killing but promised that the suspects would be arrested.

However, the Minister of Interior, Abdulrahman Dambazau, yesterday said the new Immigration Regulations 2017 would help to address the Boko Haram insurgency in Nigeria. The minister, who disclosed this yesterday in Abuja at the official presentation of the immigration rules, said the document would also help to check the incessant clashes between herdsmen and farmers in the country.

He said: “There is absolutely no doubt that this new immigration regulations will enhance the protection of our borders against cross-border crimes, particularly trafficking of arms, drugs, humans and also movement of terrorist groups and individuals.

Also, the Comptroller-General of the Nigerian Immigration Service (NIS), Muhammed Babandede, said the NIS had operated with the 1963 Act, which was not only obsolete, but also grossly inadequate to contain the unfolding migratory realities.

He expressed optimism that the document, if properly implemented, would go a long way in transforming the operations of NIS in line with international best practices.

In another development, Rivers State Governor Nyesom Wike has lauded the Nigerian Air Force for its role in dislodging the dreaded Boko Haram terrorists in the North-East.

The governor also expressed delight on the security agency for being apolitical, stressing that the Air Force focuses its attention on security issues alone.

Wike spoke yesterday during a courtesy visit by the Commander of the Nigerian Air Force 115 Special Operations Group, Air Commodore Mahmud Madi, to Government House in Port Harcourt.

Madi assured that the agency would work towards enhancing the security of the state.