President Muhammadu Buhari on Monday broke his long silence on the recent attacks  perpetrated by Fulani herdsmen in different remote communities across the country.

While receiving the Board of Directors of the Nigeria Economic Summit Group (NESG) at the Presidential Villa in Abuja,  Buhari blamed the killings on the mercenaries in the Sahel region who were trained by the late Libyan leader, Muammar Gaddafi and left with nothing to do following his demise in October 2011. He also attributed the clashes between pastoralists and crop farmers to climate change which has significantly reduced the amount of grazing land available to cattle herders.

He said the unfortunate incidences of attacks which had resulted in the loss of lives and property had already brought sorrow and untold hardship on Nigerians and deeply affected the government.

He affirmed that his administration was committed and focused on delivering on the three-pronged promises of securing the lives and properties of Nigerians, halting the pillage of the nation’s economy by corrupt public officials and creating employment for the youths.

The disclosure may have added credence to an intelligence report from the Director of soperating within some central and south-south sections of the country of being responsible for the recent killings recorded in Benue, Taraba and other parts of Nigeria.