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   Senator Theodore Orji, representing Abia Central district, has accused security agencies of partiality in their interventions during farmers/nomads clashes in the South East, whilst decrying the activities of Fulani herdsmen in some parts of the country, particularly the South East.
Meanwhile, the 72-hour ultimatum handed down to the federal government to release the 79 detained farmers from Ugwulesh Community in Awgu, Enugu State, following a clash with the herdsmen is remaining 48 hours.

Speaking with newsmen in Umuahia, Orji said that security men should know that they are being paid with tax payer's money and have no need to be partial, adding that the job of security men is to protect life and property and not to be partial.

The senator said: "We also don't like the attitude of some of the security agencies who are partial in the treatment of this issue. When the case is taken to some of them, you see them behaving very, very partial and taking sides.

"We expect that if such cases come to security men, that they should be impartial and judge it fairly so that there will be peace in the community.

Orji spoke yesterday in Umuahia, on the heels of the recent clash between herdsmen and farmers in Ugwuleshi Autonomous Community in Awgu Local Government Area of Enugu State, where 76 farmers were arrested by "fake solders"� and dumped in Umuahia Prison.

He strongly condemned the menace of herdsmen in parts of the country, saying the frequent clashes between the cattle rearers and local farmers pose serious security threat to the nation.

Orji, who recalled that herdsmen/farmers clashes have remained a reoccurring decimal in the country, called on the Federal Government to find a quick solution to the menace before it gets out of hand.

"I know that when I was a governor, it was a problem for us here. Even now the problem has persisted. It has been severally discussed even at the National Assembly by way of motions and bills.

"One of the ingredients of a motion is to allow the consciousness of people on a particular issue of governance so that the appropriate arm of government which is the Executive will take necessary action.

"We don't have the army, we don't have the police. It is the law that we have. The Senate is not happy about it. The federal government is also reacting by trying to find a grazing place for cattle. We believe that finding a grazing place for cows will give some respite to farmers and indigenes.

"There is no person in Nigeria who is happy about it. There is no person who has spoken in favour of it. It is all condemnation and condemnation. The federal government should take action to make sure that this evil is stopped.

"As far as I am concerned, it is not good. How can you come to a community with your cattle and you invade a farm, and when the farmers come to defend their crops and property you intimidate them?"�
"Some of these herdsmen carry dangerous weapons. How can unarmed farmers confront people with dangerous and sophisticated weapons?