By John Moses
The Chairman of Igbo-Etiti Local Government Area in Nigeria’s southeast, Dr Eric Odo, has urged the federal government to officially designate armed herders as a terrorist group, citing widespread violence and destruction attributed to their activities.
Dr Odo made the appeal on Monday during the opening session of a two-day agenda-setting and institutional development workshop for local government chairmen in Enugu State. The event was hosted by ActionAid Nigeria in partnership with the South-Saharan Social Development Organisation.
He stated that such a designation would empower the nation’s security forces to act more decisively against the violent actions of armed herders, who are often accused of attacking civilians, destroying farmland, and displacing rural populations.
“We believe this is the time to show courage,” Odo said. “Declaring these armed herders as terrorists will enable our security agencies – the police, military, civil defence and others – to respond with the level of force such threats demand.”
The local government leader linked the ongoing security crisis to worsening food shortages, noting that fear of attacks has kept many farmers from cultivating their land. “We cannot talk about food security when our farmers are afraid to work. The insecurity has become a direct threat to livelihoods.”
Dr Odo called on President Bola Tinubu and his national security team to take urgent action, arguing that other violent groups had been labelled as terrorist organisations in the past and treated accordingly.
Also addressing the gathering, security analyst Mr Uche Okanume advised council leaders to strengthen grassroots security networks, including local Neighbourhood Watch teams and Forest Guards, due to the slow emergency response from formal national forces.
He reported that market closures caused by insecurity have become widespread in parts of Enugu State, including Isi-Uzo, Uzo-Uwani, and Udenu.
The meeting was convened as part of a wider initiative by ActionAid to enhance democratic governance and improve local service delivery, with an emphasis on gender-responsive policymaking.
