The Nobel Laurette, Professor Wole Soyinka has asked the Federal Government to declare as terrorists, herdsmen responsible for attacks in states across the country.

Soyinka gave President Muhammadu Buhari this advice on Thursday in Lagos, during the Ripples Nigeria Dialogue; an annual forum designed to broaden the conversation on the troubled Nigerian project.

He believes it is high time the Federal Government gives a stern warning against the carnage and utter destruction they inflict on the communities largely in Benue state, Channels Television reports.

Soyinka also talked about the need for Nigerians to wake up and stand against capital punishment being suggested in the proposed Hate Speech Bill.

“Life has become so trite, so cheap, that a group of supposedly rational, intelligent people in this world, especially a world that is trying to get rid of its degrading punishment called capital punishment and they come and decree hanging, No, they’re not going to hang anybody.

“They just want an instrument to silence people. It is ironic of course that I should call Nigerians to resist this law,” he said.

Also present were economist and management expert, Dr Pat Utomi; former Governor of Anambra State, Mr Peter Obi; human rights activist, Dr Abiola Akiyode-Afolabi and Dr Reuben Abati.