Governor Aminu Tambuwal of Sokoto State on Friday cautioned local vigilantes against harrassment and killing of innocent Fulani over bandits attacks in the state.
The governor gave the warning while commiserating with families of the 29 people killed by bandits in Kamitau, Malafaru and Ololi communities in Shinaka District of Goronyo Local Government Area.
Tambuwal reaffirmed his administration’s commitment to ending all forms of banditry across the state.
He described bandits attacks on innocent people as wicked, but said it was no justification for local vigilantes and civilian JTF to also target innocent Fulani people.
He assured that state government in collaboration with security agencies were making efforts to finding lasting solution to the menace.
The governor prayed to Allah for forgiveness of the deceased persons and called on the bandits to drop their guns and embrace dialogue for the prevalence of peace and stability in the state.
Tambuwal disclosed that a window of discussion had been opened with leaders of the bandits and assured that by the grace of God, lasting peace would prevail in the state.
He expressed gratitude to district heads and other community leaders in the state for their sustained support to the government and urged them to remain calm as government was making efforts to stem the incident.
Responding on behalf of the families of the deceased persons, the District Head of Goronyo, Alhaji Sambo Usman, thanked the governor for the condolence visit and prayed Allah to reward him abundantly.
Usman told the governor that they had since embarked on public enlightenment on the importance of peaceful co-existence.
The monarch urged various communities to intensify prayers for peace and stability in the state and country as a whole.
The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that the governor was accompanied to the condolence visit by the state Deputy Governor, Alhaji Maniru Daniya and other government officials.
NAN report that the incident occured on Thursday as hundred of bandits on motorcycles raided the communities firing guns indiscriminatly on residents.
A source in the area told newsmen that the assailants arrived the villages at night, armed with sophisticated weapons and started shooting sporadically.
He explained that they killed villagers and destroyed houses and other property.
According to him, many people have fled their homes to seek refuge in nearby communities within Goronyo and Isa local government areas of the state.
Earlier, Mr Muhammad Sadiq, the Police Public Relations Officer (PPRO) Sokoto state command, confirmed the incident but could no provide the casualty figure of and places affected.
The Aare Onakakanfo, Gani Adams has ordered Fulani marauders killing people in the Southwest to vacate Yoruba land now or face the consequence as the Yoruba people will not fold their arms and watch their people being killed, raped and kidnapped.
Arising from a crucial meeting of the Aare Onakakanfo in Council, Adams warned that the Yoruba people would be forced to retaliate if the Fulani herdsmen continued to maim innocent people.
“We cannot continue to fold our arms and let these bandits continue to soil our land with the blood of the innocent. Consequently, we hereby ask these Fulani marauders to stop their murderous activities and vacate every inch of Yoruba land they currently ravage.
“Failure to reconcile themselves with these terms may warrant maximum retaliation as the principle dictates that a bully only respects a bully.
“The campaign of blood by Fulani herdsmen, who have been ravaging our land, kidnapping, killing, maiming and raping our people in recent years has become a serious source of concern for the Yoruba race; a race renowned for their staunch passion for peaceful coexistence, national cohesion and development.
“The threat posed to our existence by these blood-mongering marauders cannot be overlooked as we, as a people, believe that for peace and accord to reign among the multiplicity of people who occupy a common territory, all parties must play a role in ensuring that each and every unit in this country respect each other in all ramifications,” he stated.
According to Adams, it was disheartening and most embarrassing that the group, despite several appeals to their consciousness and common sense, had continued to wreak havoc in Southwest land, and forcibly planning to reap where they had not sown.
He said they had proven that they had come to steal, destroy, and kill; as evident in the unmitigated attacks on communities where their nomadic enterprise took them, adding that they had been plundering Yoruba land, and “we recognize evil when we see it. This is no exception.”
He said “as true spawns of Oduduwa, we are unequivocally forthright about this threat posed by this group which the federal government has turned a blind eye to by refusing to call a spade by its name, dubbing the Fulani marauders as criminals, bandits, and pillagers. Every true blood of the Yoruba race is at the risk of being haunted and slaughtered by this reckless group if we keep sugarcoating the bloody implications of their evil enterprise.
“We are acquainted with the nature of Fulani nomads in the past, and we know as a matter of fact that they were not carrying AK47s. It is because of this naked truth that we ask that these people be labelled as what they are. We are clamouring that the appropriate moniker should be used to tag them. They should be addressed as ‘Fulani bandits,’ for we believe that there is power in names.
“We strongly advise Obas and local Chiefs to show more than passing interest in the activities of people in their domains. They must know that they cannot be blameless for their failure to account for and monitor strangers in their areas of jurisdictions, particularly those whose activities run contrary to peaceful coexistence.”
Adams added that the Yoruba people could not continue to fold their arms and let these bandits continue to soil their land with the blood of the innocent and demanded concrete action from President Muhammadu Buhari’s administration over the activities of these murderous gangs.
“We are no longer comfortable with the continuing brutalization and murderous humiliation of our people. Government’s silence is distressing as it is emboldening the criminals. President Buhari must act now. They need to understand that their seeming stillness about this plague is a tacit alignment with the forces of evil,” he said.
Adams listed dark spots where urgent Federal Government’s intervention were needed to include Orile-Owu to Ijebu-Ode forest, Osun and Ogun States; Ilesha, Ife, Aramoko, Ijero, Esa-Oke, Ikire, Gbogan, Ode-Omu, Ifewara, Ibadan to Ife Road, Ife to Akure Road, Ikesha to Oshogbo, and environs; Osi, Igede, Ilupeju, Ikole, Ado, Ikere, and environs, among others.
Former Minister of Aviation, Femi Fani-Kayode has told speakership hopeful, Femi Gbajabiamila that he does not have to sell his soul to the Fulanis because he wants to become a speaker.
Fani-Kayode was reacting to a photo in which Gbajabiamila was pictured sitting at the feet and clinging to the thighs of a Fulani Islamic scholar by the name of Sheik Dahiru Bauchi.
The former minister, who was displeased with the what he saw said: “Has it really come to this? Do we have to sink to this level? Must we bow before them? Is it not better to die a free man than live a slave? Some have argued that Femi did this because he is a Muslim and that he was merely displaying his deep respect for a northern Muslim cleric.
“I find this contention, at best, intellectually dishonest and, at worst, specious and disingenuous. It is also a pernicious lie that seeks to mask the bitter truth. The question is whether a any leading Fulani politician would ever crawl before, kneel at the feet of and grab the thighs of any Yoruba Muslim cleric or Sheik simply to win his support for any position?”
According to Fani-Kayode, “I doubt it very much given the fact that Fulani Muslims do not even allow Yoruba clerics to lead prayers in mosques in the north. The Yoruba Muslims in the north are compelled to open their own “Yoruba Mosques” where they can lead in prayer but they cannot lead in any mosque that the Hausa Fulani attend.
This is the case despite the fact that Islam came to the Yorubaland, through the Turkish traders, a good 400 years before it arrived in the northern region of what later became Nigeria through Usman Dan Fodio. I have known Femi for over 40 years and I have always loved and respected him. I still do. And as far as I am concerned politics can never come between us. But the Femi in this picture is not the Femi I knew, loved and grew up with in old Lagos.
“That Femi would never bow or kneel before any man for any reason. That Femi was a man of honour, self-respect and dignity who put his family and tribe before anything or anyone else. That Femi was one of the most brilliant minds of the new generation of young political leaders that emerged in the late ’90’s and that went on to do great things and achieve so much for their people and country.
“Nothing could intimidate him and no-one could buy him. And neither would he ever beg or crawl before anyone or grab their thighs and knees in desperation. Sadly things appear to have changed. May God deliver us! I still believe that he would make a great Speaker of the House of Reps and that he deserves the position.”
GovernorNasiru El-Rufai of Kaduna State on Saturday pleaded with the Fulani community to shun the temptation of engaging in reprisal attacks following the killing of 66 of their population in Kajuru Local Government Area of the state.
The governor, at a meeting with stakeholders in Kajuru, wondered why killing had become incessant in Iri axis, including Kuturo, Unguwar Barde, Maro gida among other areas in the local government.
“I know it’s the Fulanis that are most affected in this crisis as over a hundred people have been killed, but as Muslims, we have been advised to forgive, to be patient as God avenges every evil,” he said.
“You must not take the law into your hands by killing anybody as you are likely to harm innocent people. Allow the security to do their work please.”
The governor alleged that some elders in the communities were responsible for the killings having provided weapons to the youths who carried out the attacks.
” I am always disheartened each time I visit Kajuru and sincerely am tired of this situation, because the elders know those involved in the killings and have refused to fish them out.
“Maybe when government and the security agencies withdraw support from your communities, you will know our worth and do the needful.
“I have also asked the Council Chairman not to bail any leader who will be arrested in connection with the menace. Nobody is above the law, hence, culprits must be prosecuted, if guilty”, El-Rufa’i stressed.
The governor warned youths to stop the unnecessary killings in the area, and declared that anyone of them caught would also face the death penalty.
El-Rufa’i said the recurring killings in the local government has stunted its growth, noting that” no community develops without peace; all developmental projects are meant for the youths as they are beneficiaries in the long run.”
He condoled with families whose relatives were killed during the attack and promised to render help to victims whose houses were burnt.
Earlier, the Council Chairman, Mr. Cafra Caino, said miscreants in the communities have refused to allow peace to reign, adding that all peace loving people must work to expose the perpetrators and bring them to justice.
“We have given bikes to village heads to help us manage the security issues. We must not allow them divide us along religious and ethnic sentiments. We therefore urge all leaders to pinpoint the culprits”.
Also speaking, the Chief Imam of Adara kingdom, Nuhu Sha’aban who is also a Fulani leader said majority of those killed were women and children less than one year old.
“We the Fulani have lived in this forest for over 41 years but the youths keep ambushing and killing us. Some of us were slaughtered and others burnt and thrown into ditches”, Sha’aban said.
The Imam asked the Commissioner of Police to transfer most of the policemen in the area, whom he claimed were mostly indigenes of the communities who have been at their duty posts for over 10 years.
He however appreciated the new Divisional Police Officer recently deployed to the area and the military authorities for their efforts at ensuring security in the area.
Coalition of Fulani herdsmen groups in Nigeria have dissociated themselves from some Fulani unions’ endorsement of a particular presidential candidate in the forthcoming general elections.
They described the endorsement as dangerous noting that their associations were social, non political and none partisan aimed at uplifting Fulani interests.
Alhaji Saleh Bayari, leader of the coalition made this known at a National Delegates meeting of coalition of Fulani Associations from 36 states of the federation and the FCT held in Sokoto on Sunday.
The groups said the endorsement was not in the interest of the generality of Fulani herdsmen as neither consultations nor meetings were held prior to the decision.
The associations directed their members to disregard the endorsement and elect any candidate of their choice as guaranteed by the constitution.
It also reminded herdsmen to consider the credibility and suitability of candidates as well as the leader that has regard and concerns with their plights.
According to the groups, about 17 million pastoralists are in Nigeria and that while government disburses subsidy and support to farmers, herdsmen obtained nothing in past four years.
The coalition accused the Federal Government of not doing enough for Fulani herdsmen in recognition that they were marginalised in the present disbursement of Tradermoni scheme and others.
The groups alleged that the present administration had neglected them on agricultural support schemes, concentrating mostly on grain, poultry and fish farming.
The groups further explained that the meeting was organised to exchange thoughts and ideas and possible ways of librating the Fulani herdsmen to come out to speak with one tongue.
They also said the laws banning cattle grazing were unconstitutional that violated human rights while noting that the moves to establish cattle ranches and colonies were yet to come to reality.
The coalition further stated that President Muhammadu Buhari and Atiku Abubakar are all Fulani men and urged members to elect who showed concerns on pastoralists’ plights and their economic development as well as engaged on “Ruga to Ruga” consultation campaign.
In the communiqué read by Bayari at end of the event, the coalition commended Amnesty International 2018 report that said about 3,641 persons lost their lives in farmers/headsmen conflicts in Nigeria.
Bayari appealed to the Federal Government to grant unconditional amnesty to their members detained over various crimes allegations in the country.
He said the federal government should consider amnesty to Fulani people accused of crimes as it was done to agitators in the oil rich Niger Delta region.
“About 3,000 Fulani clans are in detention at different security formations in the country.
“Poverty, neglect and poor treatment among fellow Nigerians are mostly causes that forced those accused persons to engage in dastardly acts,” Bayari said.
He explained that about 2,500 pastoralists were killed while 3.7 million livestock were either killed or rustled from the herdsmen at various states of the federation, the situation that subjected members to untold hardships.
He pointed out that granting them amnesty would allow leaders to unite their fellows and partner with authorities to sanction any member found engaging in any unlawful activities.
The Hausa-Fulani community in Edo State, led by the Sarkin Fulani, Alhaji Muhammed Sossa, has commenced the biometric verification of its members in the state, to fish out cattle rustlers and other criminals that hide in their community to perpetrate crimes.
Alhaji Sossa, who disclosed this during a courtesy visit to the Edo State Governor, Mr Godwin Obaseki, at the Government House in Benin City, the state capital, said his group has been having meetings with security agencies in the state to ensure the Obaseki-led administration enjoys the desired peace to deliver the dividends of democracy to the people of the state.
He commended the governor for the prevailing peaceful atmosphere in the state under his watch.
“We have started the biometric varication of people in our communities to ascertain genuine businessmen and women in the state. The process will help us fish out bad elements,” the Sarkin Fulani said.
In his remark, Edo State Governor, Mr Godwin Obaseki, said his administration will continue to collaborate with the Hausa-Fulani community in the state to maintain peace and ensure that people are living harmoniously with one another in the state.
He commended the Sarkin Fulani for providing leadership among the Hausa-Fulani community in the state especially during trying times.
“We need to sustain and build on the existing relationship to maintain the peace through information gathering and management,” the governor added.
“We have set up committees at different local government areas to support in tackling crimes. We need to have a meeting to review the activities of these committees in all the local government areas. In reviewing their activities your contributions will be needed,” the governor added.
He explained, “It is in the interest of the government to give the Sarkin Fulani all the support to help fish out the bad elements in the state. We will continue to collaborate with you to enjoy peace in the state.”
The Ardo of Chanchaga, Mallam Abdullahi Babayo, has called on herdsmen to stop using minors as cattle rearers to avert clashes with farmers.
Babayo who is also Sarkin Fulani Chanchaga and Shaku Kingdom in Minna made the call in an interview with the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) in Minna on Wednesday.
He said that once herdsmen stop engaging minors in the service of cattle rearing, it would radically reduce clashes with farmers.
“It is outrageous for an underage boy to lead herd of cattle, in an emergency such a boy will be stranded.
“It endangers not only the boy and the society but even the cattle as cattle rustlers take advantage of the young lad to rustle his cow and cause mayhem.
“A farmer can be very upset seeing an underage boy with a herd of cow.
“There is this sign of relief and confidence farmers enjoy when they see cattlemen leading cattle to graze, they feel their crop is safe,’’ he said.
The Fulani leader also called on farmers to respect designated cattle tracks and avoid farming on them, so as to enhance harmony and peaceful coexistence between them and herders.
“The farmers rely on their crops while the herders also depend on their cattle for livelihood and so they must learn to respect each other’s concern for good neighborliness,’’ he stressed.
Babayo them to resolve all misunderstandings legally instead of resorting to violence.
“All sides should sheath their swords and coexist peacefully for the progress of the state and the country at large,” he added.
*We know the killers say victims, military sources
*Fulani herdsmen attacked us a few days after peace talks – Gashish District Head
*Victims unsure government can give them justice
Over 200 killed! The Berom community in Plateau State are still counting their losses in the mayhem that befell them on Friday, June 23, 2018.
As horrendous as the last attack was, it wasn’t the first time Plateau State was witnessing this kind of killings – killer Fulani herdsmen and the people of Berom had been locked in crisis for over two decades.
According to reports, the tussle has been over the ownership of Jos and claims to ‘indigene’ status between the native tribes and nomadic Fulani herdsmen.
The Berom nation, one of the largest tribes in Plateau, have never hidden their displeasure with the Fulanis who they see as intruders and land grabbers.
The Fulani, on the other hand, are almost always at war with the Berom people on the grounds that they rustle their cows and hinder the spread of their trade.
However, the silence and little attention given to the issue by the government with regards to ensuring justice is what the victims see as alarming.
While news reports and victims’ testimonies from both sides have confirmed that the perpetrators of the heinous attack are enemies living within, the federal government has described the killers as aliens. As such, while victims continue to count their losses and live in agony, their attackers roam free and the battle for supremacy goes on unend.
TheNewsGuru.com’s correspondent visited some of the ‘no-go areas’ in the troubled Plateau to unravel the mystery surrounding the faceless stealing of cows and beam a searchlight on the unknown killer herdsmen who reportedly snuff out life of innocent souls.
*Fulani herdsmen attacked us a few days after peace talks – Gashish District Head
Burnt car in Gashish disrtrict, Barkin Ladi
Investigations by TNG revealed that there had been peace talks between the warring Berom nation and Fulani herdsmen before the June 23rd massacre.
The Gashish District Head, Chief Mark Bwodeh, in an exclusive interview with TNG in Plateau, confirmed that both parties met on Wednesday, June 20th while the attack was launched on Saturday, June 23rd.
Bwodeh explained that efforts of the Berom nation at achieving peace with the Fulani herdsmen had always met a brick wall.
The district head also debunked allegations of cattle rustling among subjects in his district.
One of the building torched during the crisis.
Bwodeh said, “As far as we are concerned, allegations of cattle rustling are baseless. We have never stolen anything from them (the Fulanis) to provoke their heinous attacks on us.
“However, information at our disposal has it that Fulani herdsmen invaded Fan District (another district in Barkin Ladi), entered people’s farms and grazed in their farmlands, and when these people challenged them, they ran away, leaving their cows behind.
“The Fan indigenes later slaughtered those cows. It was in the process of coming to retrieve them that they (the Fulanis) discovered they had all been slaughtered. However, rather than revenge there in Fan, the Fulani Herdsmen headed straight to Gashish to murder our people who are innocent of the rustlings.”
In the wake of the violence, the Gashish head confirmed taking some deliberate reconciliatory steps to foster peace.
“I personally went to Fan District to ask them. They said they did not steal any cow and the Fan people are Beroms; they are our brothers,” Bwodeh added.
Who are the cattle rustlers?
TNG’s interaction with the Gashish district head, established that the big question in the Plateau debacle is about who the cattle rustlers are?
The ‘cattle rustlers’ are believed to be benefitting from the age-long battle between the Berom and Fulanis. And while cattle rustling remains the trigger for the herdsmen’s heinous acts, both Gashish and Fan residents have continued to deny allegations of being labelled cattle rustlers by the herders.
However, findings by our correspondent during and after his return from the Plateau trip revealed that most incidents of the cattle rustling happened in the Barkin Ladi Local Council, which is largely populated by the Berom.
On August 8, 2018, about 82 cows went missing after 109 were rustled around Kasa, Barkin Ladi Local Government Area of Plateau State where two Fulani travellers were killed on August 5.
Reacting to the said cow rustling incident, Barkin Ladi Secretary of Miyetti Allah Cattle Breeders Association in Nigeria (MACBAN), Abubakar Gambo, who had earlier declined speaking with TheNewsGuru on the crisis, told newsmen that 27 of the 109 cattle were recovered by men of Operation Safe Haven who engaged the criminals in a shoot-out.
Gambo said the criminals were Berom youths who were armed with guns. He alleged that they harassed the cattle, sending them into different directions before leading them to Fan district of Barkin Ladi.
His words: “The young men tending to the cattle ran away when they heard the gunshots and saw the rustlers coming. They had to escape otherwise they would be killed, but they saw the youths, and they are Berom youths guiding the cattle into Fan district. When they contacted us, we immediately notified the sector 7 commander who sent his men but because they were few, they were only able to engage one group and recovered 27 while the others were moved into Fan.”
Operation Safe Haven Media and Information Officer, Major Adam Umar, confirmed the incident, but said men of the taskforce had recovered and handed over 27 to MACBAN leadership in the area.
He said although a group of the criminals had engaged security men, they had been forced to abandon 27 of the cattle and flee due to superior fire power of the taskforce.
“We are working with other security agencies as well as community and youth leaders to track the remaining cattle,” he said.
Cattle rustling at Fan, killings in Gashish
The embittered and visibly angry district head said the Fulani herdsmen admitted that their cattle were rustled at Fan but carried out their massive reprisal killings in Gashish despite their friendliness with them (the Fulanis).
Mark said the Fulanis did not deny responsibility for the killings in Gashish community. According to him, their sole aim of killing was to avenge the loss of their cows with as many human lives as possible.
“And when we sat with the Fulanis in Gashish District where the FOB (Forward Operational Base) Headquarters is, we asked them what was responsible for the killings in Gashish and they responded that it was because of what was happening in Fan, that they (Fan residents) stole their cows.
The Fulani herdsmen were people living with us before they started the gruesome attacks on innocent lives in Gashish,” Mark further explained.
According to the district leader, the peace talks earlier held with the Fulani herdsmen did not deter them from carrying out the massacres on Gashish soil whereas the rustling actually took place in Fan.
Mark recalled, “During the meeting we asked them, why didn’t they go to Fan where their cows were rustled. But they had no explanation. In that singular attack, about eleven villages were burnt and destroyed, with over 200 people killed.
In my village alone (Kashi), they killed 13. In Gindi Akwati (Ex-land), they killed 36. In Nghar village, they killed almost 84. We did a mass burial there. In Ruku, they killed 27. We also did a mass burial there.
As I speak, some corpses are yet to be found. That is for you to know the extent of the killings. After the killings, we wanted to take the bodies to town for people to see but security agencies at the scene did not grant us that; they restricted us from showing it to the world. And they want us to just bury them like that, so the world will never know that this is what is happening.”
*Both Berom, Fulani herdsmen culpable
An empty military checkpoint in Gashish district
A top military source in Plateau, who spoke to TheNewsGuru under the condition of anonymity on the controversy surrounding the killings, said the narrative mostly concealed from the public is that of cattle rustling.
He said, “Let me tell you the truth, you can’t understand this crisis if you don’t ask who the cattle rustlers are. Ignore all you hear from the Berom people. They will tell you Fulani herdsmen attacked them for no reason; that is not true.
“The truth is, most of the cattle rustlers are Berom. We get complaints from the herders association on their (cattle rustlers) activities. Sometimes, we wade in to help the Fulanis recover some of their stolen cows. There are even instances when a herder is killed in the course of a cattle rustler trying to steal from him (herder).”
The source cited that though the people of Gashish may have no grudge with the Fulani herdsmen, they might just be targeted by the rampaging herdsmen because the place is one of the areas in Plateau highly dominated by Berom people.
“The Fulanis that I know are well organised and tactical in their killings; they prefer to carry out their attack in areas where the impact will be mostly felt. It is just unfortunate that Gashish happened to be the place.”
Speaking on the case of the killer herdsmen, our source also admitted that most of the perpetrators were known but said the military had been cautioned not to be too hostile as that will further heighten the tension in the state.
Asked if the killer herdsmen were aliens, he replied, “We know some of them, in fact we have among them those who act as our informants. But our role here is to ensure peace and not to heighten the tension.
“We hold several peace meetings with the two parties, it is only unfortunate that whenever the crisis start, both the Berom people and Fulani herdsmen act out of control.”
Government promises intervention
The governor of the state, Simon Lalong in a state broadcast, shortly after the attacks, vowed to ensure that the perpetrators were arrested and made to face the wrath of the law.
In his words: “It is with deep sense of sorrow that I address you today, following the pockets of violent attacks on some communities in the state.”
According to the governor, “the unfortunate incident has led to loss of lives and properties. The resurgence of violence in Plateau is reprehensible. Yet, this is a stark reminder of the magnitude of peace and security challenges staring at us in the face.
“On behalf of the government of the state therefore, I commiserate with the families of those affected and pray that God, in his infinite mercies, will grant them eternal rest,” Lalong said in an emotion laden voice.
Vice President Yemi Osinbajo, on an assessment visit to the state, said that those found culpable in the killings will be arrested and prosecuted. He had led the federal government delegation to ascertain the security situation after the gruesome murder of over 200 natives.
Osinbajo met with leaders and stakeholders in the State. The VP said he was directed by President Muhammadu Buhari to come to the state and see what the federal government could do to stop the killings. “It is disturbing that Plateau is in the news again for killings. President Buhari has ordered that those found culpable should be arrested and prosecuted. This is condemnable and the government would ensure that this is not allowed to happen again”, he declared.
President Buhari also visited the state to commiserate with the people. Speaking at an interactive session with stakeholders, Buhari urged traditional and community leaders to complement government efforts by persuading their constituencies to tolerate one another for peace and unity in the country. The president vowed not to relent in his responsibility to protect the lives and properties of every Nigerian, noting that he would not run away from it.
He said, ‘‘I will continue to pressurise members of the law enforcement agencies. About eight days ago, we had five hours of security meeting of the service chiefs and the Inspector-General of Police. What happened here in Jos is very bad. The question of leadership, from your household to whatever you are, is justice. The bottom line is justice. That is why wherever I go, I always appeal to the leadership of the communities and the law enforcement agencies to have control of their constituencies.”
President Muhammadu Buhari on Thursday said the claims that being a Fulani, he must be encouraging the killings being perpetrated by armed herdsmen in parts of the country seemed to him that there was no limit to the evil in the minds of men.
The president wondered how anyone in their right minds would suggest that he, who emerged as President with substantial votes from the affected areas, would do any harm to the same people who voted for him.
Buhari said this while receiving members of the Christian Association of Nigeria from the 19 northern states and Abuja at the Presidential Villa, Abuja.
The President said it was unfair for anybody to accuse his government of not doing anything to stop the killings.
Buhari said, “When some (people), for clearly political purposes, attempt to suggest that this government is doing nothing about the killings, and that I, being Fulani, must be encouraging these satanic acts, it seems to me that there is no limit to the evil in the minds of men.
“Otherwise, how can anyone in their right minds suggest that I, as an elected President even with substantial votes in the affected areas, will for any reason do harm by an act of omission to those same people?
“Secondly, the problems in all these areas, as you all know, are historical. There is no administration that has not had to contend with killings in these same areas over the years.
“Indeed, in 2001, you may recall that after thousands were killed in Plateau State, a state of emergency was declared and a governor was replaced by an administrator. To suggest that our administration is doing nothing is terribly unfair.
“We must not forget that the same Plateau State which has been crisis-ridden for years has in the past three years been celebrated for its peacefulness. The governor’s hard work for peace and the presence of the military’s Operation Safe Haven must have had some impact.”
The President said the government had deployed extra special forces from the Defence Headquarters.
Besides, he said no fewer than three special military intervention forces were currently in the troubled zones.
These forces, he said, were supported with investigative and intelligence gathering capabilities from the Nigeria Police Force, Department of State Services and other agencies.
Buhari said the military and the police had arrested hundreds of suspects across the various flashpoints in the region and several prosecutions were ongoing.
He added, “The recent killings in Benue, Zamfara and lately Plateau are wicked, condemnable and completely unacceptable acts. We, Nigerians, are religious people and no religion or culture accepts the killing of people for any reason whatsoever.
“This is why we must all rise as one to condemn these vile and wicked acts to ensure that all the culprits are brought to justice.
“We owe it to the memory of those who lost their lives in the violence in Plateau, Benue, Nasarawa, Taraba, Zamfara and elsewhere since 1999 to bring the conflicts to a decisive end. I assure you that we will do this.
“Let me make it clear that even a single life lost in any part of the country is one too many. I came to office vowing to ensure the protection of lives and property, and I remain committed to this despite the challenges we have experienced.
“I, therefore, seek your support as clerics and religious leaders to join hands with this administration and give us your full support. As you all know, deploying law enforcement agencies is fully our responsibility as a government while creating the platform and mechanisms for dialogue is a collective effort.
“The military and the police have arrested hundreds of suspects across the various flashpoints in the region and several prosecutions are going on. In a number of cases, we have seen convictions.
“Nigerians are right when they say they want to see more convictions and I would like to appeal to the judiciary to help us to fast-track these cases.
The President said government could achieve lasting peace only with the sincere and active cooperation of communities, religious leaders, youths and other stakeholders.
These, he added, included the media in whose hand, he said, “lies the power to frame, shape the perspectives and narratives which influence the thinking of millions of people within and outside Nigeria.”
“Finally, let us collectively shame those who are stoking the fires of ethnic and religious conflicts for their short-term political gains.
“This country belongs equally to Christians and Muslims and even those who claim ignorance of God,” Buhari told his guests.
There was pandemonium in Huke village, Miango in Bassa Local Government Area of Plateau State as three persons between 70 and 100 years were confirmed dead and over 12 houses razed during an attack by Fulani herdsmen.
The victims are Ahmadu Hwie, Odoh Hwie and Gado Kondo.
The attack according to a report by The Punch happened on Friday night.
The spokesperson of Plateau State Police Command, Matthias Tyopev, an Assistant Superintendent of Police, confirmed the killing of the three men.
He said, “On January 26 2018 at about 18:30 hr, while our men were sustaining patrols around Rafi-Bauna and Jebu-Miango areas, they received information that at about 18:15 hrs of same date, a gang of armed men suspected to be Fulani herdsmen were seen killing people and burning down houses at Huke village in Miango Chiefdom, Bassa LGA of Plateau State.
“On receipt of this information, they immediately mobilised to the area. While getting close to the village the suspected herdsmen, on sighting our patrol vehicles, took to their heels. As a result of the attack, some people were shot and killed.
“They are Ahmadu Hwie (male 100 years old); Odoh Hwie (male 90 years) and Gado Kondo (male 70 years old), all of Huke Village, Miango Bassa LGA. Ten houses were also set ablaze by the same attackers.
“The suspected herdsmen have adopted guerrilla tactics of hit and run. As such, the Commissioner of Police Plateau State Command, Jos, Undie Adie, has deployed more police personnel to the area for effective coverage and robust patrol to curtail the incidents of attacks.
“The CP has also deployed the State Investigation and Intelligence Bureau Operatives to intelligently sniff for information to end the attacks and bring perpetrators to book. Meanwhile, investigation is in progress and members of the public are enjoined to avail the Police with useful information to unravel the remote and immediate causes of these attacks for a permanent solution.”
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