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Tag: Killings

  • 371 killed in Zamfara since January 2018 – AI

    Amnesty International (AI) said at least 371 people were killed since January 2018 and dozens of villages sacked in Zamfara State, as armed bandits hold sway in the state.

    A statement yesterday by the Nigeria spokesman of AI, Isa Sanusi said insecurity was escalating in Zamfara State, with daily killings and kidnappings by armed bandits leaving villagers in constant fear of attacks.

    He said thousands of people have been displaced by a conflict, which began in 2012 as a result of clashes between farmers and herders.

    Sanusi quoted the Director of Amnesty International Nigeria, Osai Ojigho as saying, “This is Nigeria’s forgotten conflict. The authorities’ failure to act has left villagers in Zamfara at the mercy of armed bandits, who have killed hundreds of people over the course of two bloody years.

    “When we visited the region, villagers told us that they had pleaded with the government to help them after receiving warning letters from the bandits ahead of attacks but had received no protection.

    “The Nigerian authorities have repeatedly claimed to be tackling the situation, but the mounting death toll tells a different story,” Ojigho said.

    AI said on Friday July 27, 18 villages in the Mashema, Kwashabawa and Birane districts of Zurmi local government area of Zamfara state were attacked, leaving at least 42 people dead.

    At least 18,000 residents of the affected villages, who were displaced over the weekend were taking refuge at various locations in the local government headquarters, the following day a further 15 people were kidnapped in Maradun local government area.

    He said “Previous military interventions have failed to end the killings, especially in rural areas of Zamfara.”

    He said at least 238 of the killings took place after the deployment of the Nigerian Air Force.

  • Killings: Buhari orders deployment of 1,000 troops to Zamfara

    Killings: Buhari orders deployment of 1,000 troops to Zamfara

    The Federal Government has assembled a 1,000-strong military force, comprising the army, air force, police and the civil defence, to launch attacks on the bandits terrorising the villages and towns of Zamfara State.

    The Senior Special Assistant to the President on Media and Publicity, Garba Shehu, disclosed this in a statement made available to journalists on Sunday.

    Shehu said following President Muhammadu Buhari’s directive, the Nigerian Air Force has begun the deployment of fighter aircraft to Katsina, the airport with the closest proximity to Zamfara State to make for immediate and effective response to the menace of the bandits.

    This, he said, had not been possible in the past because there was no fuel depot facility in Katsina.

    The presidential spokesman said NAF had now devised a way around the problem.

    He added, “The President has also authorised the engagement by NAF, of advanced satellite surveillance technology to help in accurate detection of movement and locations of the bandits.

    “The government had to go to this extent because of the limitations of conventional surveillance, as the use of satellite technology could make the task of NAF less problematic.

    “Following directives from the President, at the weekend, the Chief of Air Staff, Air Marshall Sadiq Abubakar, was in Gusau where he met the Deputy Governor of the state.

    “The Chief of Air Staff reiterated the President’s pledge that he would never abandon the victims of attacks to their fate, reaffirming that security remains one of the cardinal pillars of his campaign promises and no leader would be happy to see his own citizens killed by criminal groups across the country.”

    Shehu recalled that since his election, the President had kept faith with his promises to re-equip and motivate the country’s military and other security services.

    The army and other security services, he said, were now better equipped and motivated to face the challenges of their responsibilities.

     

  • Killings: We are not criminals, police cannot invite us, Miyetti Allah replies Gowon

    Killings: We are not criminals, police cannot invite us, Miyetti Allah replies Gowon

    The National Coordinator of Miyetti Allah Cattle Breeders Association of Nigeria in Benue State, Alhaji Garus Gololo, has described the call for the interrogation of the leadership of Miyetti Allah by former military Head of State, Gen. Yakubu Gowon (retd.), over killings by suspected Fulani herdsmen as uncalled for and unbefitting of an elder statesman.

    He said the former head of state was only speaking for the people of the Middle Belt, adding that the killings were not limited to the region.

    Gowon, had last week in Makurdi, condemned the killings in the Middle Belt, demanding that Miyetti Allah leaders be invited for questioning.

    But the Miyetti Allah leader in Benue State said it was wrong for Gowon to have called for their arrest because they had not done anything criminal to warrant being invited by the police for questioning.

    “I don’t understand what Gowon meant because it is only criminals that the police can invite. If that is the case, who should be questioned in Zamfara, Borno, Rivers and Lagos where there have also been killings?

    “Just yesterday, four people were killed in Zamfara, who should the police invite? To me, it is very unfortunate for a former Head of State to have made such inciting comments.

    “What about the people who blocked roads in Jos and killed people; who have questioned them? And what about those people who were burnt to ashes and removed from vehicles in the Middle Belt, who have questioned those that killed them? Our people were burnt in vehicles at Daudu area in Benue State, who is to be questioned?

    “As far as I’m concerned, we are cattle breeders, we are peace lovers, we support peace and we will continue to preach peace. Honestly, I’m not happy with his comments and I’m disappointed.

    “No Miyetti Allah member would honour any invitation from the police in respect of any killings. Invitation? What for?

    “They would call you just because you are leading an organisation and something happened in any state; is that how things are done?

    “We are a registered organisation and we don’t have any dealing with the police as far as I’m concerned because we have a very robust and cordial relationship with them. The police cannot invite us because of a request made by someone because we’re friends with the police,” Gololo said.

    Meanwhile, efforts to get the state police command to say whether it will invite leaders of Miyetti Allah in the state for questioning or not were not successful.

  • Killings: Presidency blasts Northern elders for accusing Buhari of ‘incompetence’

    The Presidency on Friday issued stern warnings to some Northern elders accusing the President Muhammadu Buhari’s administration of complacency and incompetence towards killings across the country.

    Recall that leaders of some socio-cultural organisations led by the Northern Elders Forum, had issued a communique accusing Buhari’s administration of incompetence in handling the security situation in the country.

    But the Presidency, in a statement by the Senior Special Assistant to the President on Media and Publicity, Garba Shehu, said it considered the communique “as the shedding of crocodile tears by selfish leaders.”

    Shehu claimed that the leaders felt alienated after a transparent and accountable system “halted their disproportionate survival on resources of the state.”

    He, therefore, urged Nigerians to ignore what he described as the unholy alliance by the groups.

    He said the groups were only stepping up their assault on the All Progressives Congress administration as it expands its national dominance and moves closer to securing an outright victory in the elections next year.

    He said, “The Presidency notes with dismay that the refrain about President Buhari not doing anything about security in the country had turned into the number one fake news item being peddled in the media.

    “The Presidency refers all the purveyors of falsehood to a State House press release published a few days ago and signed by the Special Adviser to President, Femi Adesina, which clearly outlined the government’s major achievements and initiatives in tackling security challenges from January to July, 2018.

    “The press release which was titled: ‘Combating Insecurity in the Country: Lest We Forget – Presidency’ listed out ongoing security operations: (1) Nigerian Army’s Exercise Ayem Akpatuma covering Benue, Taraba, Kogi, Nasarawa, Kaduna and Niger States launched in February to tackle cases of kidnappings, herdsmen/farmers’ clashes, among others; (2) Nigerian Air Force establishment of three new Quick Response Wings (QRW) in Taraba, Nasarawa and Benue States respectively, and deployment of Special Forces personnel.

    “The press release also noted President Buhari’s approval for the establishment of a new Battalion of the Nigerian Army, as well as a new Police Area Command, in Birnin Gwari Local Council in Kaduna State, as part of measures to scale up security in response to the banditry affecting the area.

    “We advise Nigerians to read Adesina’s statement if they haven’t yet, or re-read it for better understanding of the efforts to ensure peace in the country.

    “It is sad and misleading for anyone to say that President Buhari had not responded to the security challenges in the country.

    “No one can honestly say that President Buhari is doing nothing about security. It’s just a fake news item being peddled by selfish politicians with vested interests in keeping Nigerians incensed, and it risks being entrenched as reality if we don’t educate ourselves with the truth.”

  • Relax, my security chiefs ‘racking’ their brains to end killings – Buhari tells Nigerians

    President Muhammadu Buhari, on Wednesday appealed to Nigerians to exercise some patient while his security chiefs find long lasting solutions to the killings across the country.

    A statement by his Senior Special Assistant on Media and Publicity, Garba Shehu, quoted the President as saying this while condemning killings of many people, including a district head, in and around Gandi village in Rabah Local Government of Sokoto State by bandits.

    “I wish to assure all Nigerians that their security is receiving the greatest attention from this administration and there is no compromise in this commitment.

    “I appeal for your patience while my security teams crack (sic) their brains to put an end to this horrendous violence,” Shehu quoted Buhari as saying.

    The President said his government would no longer tolerate violence against innocent Nigerians.

    He threatened that any attempt to try his government’s will would be met with equal force.

    He wondered why murderers would be targeting innocent people for no just cause.

    The President said, “This wanton violence against innocent people won’t be tolerated by this government, and we are working round the clock to identify the people sponsoring these heartless attacks.

    “It is curious why any group of mass murderers would be targeting and killing innocent people for no just reason.

    “Make no mistake about it, my administration remains committed to security as one of its core objectives, and any attempt to test our will by any group of anarchists and troublemakers will be met with equal force.

    “Identifying and defeating these callous killers is receiving priority from this administration, and we shall spare no effort in tracing the root of this evil, especially their sources of funding and arms.”

    Buhari promised that although these hit-and-run gangs of mass murderers were using unconventional tacts, they would eventually be defeated.

    The President also warned that “this administration will not allow any group of barbarians and criminals hold the country hostage and destroy life without consequences.”

    He extended his condolences to the government, families of the victims and the people of Sokoto State at large over what he called “these incredible losses of lives at the hands of these enemies of humanity.”

    He assured then that the Federal Government would give all possible assistance to the state in dealing with the tragic incident.

     

  • ‘The Buhari I know will not support senseless killings by herdsmen’

    ‘The Buhari I know will not support senseless killings by herdsmen’

    A former Head of State, Yakubu Gowon on Tuesday exonerated President Muhammadu Buhari of the killings and violence across the country.

    Gowon noted that it is unfair to blame Buhari for the killings in the conflict between farmers and herders in some parts of Nigeria.

    Gowon, who was Nigeria’s military ruler between 1966 and 1974, said he believed the president has no hand in the killings.

    “The Buhari I know will not be involved in such things. Certainly, no leader will encourage his people to be killed.”

    He spoke on Tuesday at the Plateau State Government House when he paid a condolence visit to Governor Simon Lalong over the resurgence of violence in the state.

    At least 200 persons were believed dead in the violence in three local government areas in the state.

    Gowon condemned social media reports linking the president to killings in Nigeria, describing the reports as unfortunate.

    According to a statement by the state commissioner for Information and Communications, Yakubu Dati, Gowon decried the past practice of releasing arrested suspects without their trial.

    “People arrested should be investigated and prosecuted in Jos where the crime was committed,” the former leader said.

    Thanking him for the visit, Lalong said the state government has reviewed the state laws to prosecute perpetrators of killings and these would soon be signed into law.

    “We have reviewed adequate laws to prosecute offenders in Jos,” he said.

    Lalong thanked the former head of state for standing by the state as a father, adding that all efforts were being made to restore peace to the state.

  • Killings: Buhari’s security architecture not working, should be overhauled – Tambuwal

    Killings: Buhari’s security architecture not working, should be overhauled – Tambuwal

    …blames incessant killings on leadership failure

    Governor Aminu Tambuwal of Sokoto State has blamed the incessant killings in the country on failure of leadership.

    Tambuwal, in a statement he signed and released on Tuesday, said the deaths were avoidable and preventable.

    “The worst part of all this is that these deaths are avoidable and the killings preventable. It boils down, at the end of the day, to failure of leadership. Nigeria cannot progress and be part of a 21st Century forward looking world by creating new batches of mourners every other day.

    “This is not the way to go. That is not what Nigerians voted for in 2015. That is not what will build a virile, united, united, politically stable and economically prosperous African Giant,” he said.

    The former House of Representatives Speaker commiserated with families of those slain across the country.

    The statement reads: “I wish to commiserate with the families, friends, colleagues and associates of all our beloved fellow citizens, who lost their lives in the persistent and senseless killings now occuring in all parts of our dear country. Indeed, the growing spate of mindless shedding of innocent blood, especially of policemen and other security personnel on their lawful duty posts, has brought a new dimension to the reprehensible state of insecurity in the country.

    “Last May, three policemen were shot dead in Sokoto State by kidnappers, who abducted a Syrian national they were escorting. A few days later, four police officers were ambushed and killed in Benue State. Last week seven policemen were reportedly gunned down in cold blood in Abuja, and their arms and ammunition taken, by unknown persons.

    “This is happening amidst repeatedly reported cases of attacks on police stations and other security facilities in various parts of the country.

    “The question from every law abiding citizen today is: “Who will protect us, when even those constitutionally charged with the responsibility of protecting our lives and property have, themselves, become vulnerable targets of criminals? Where shall we run to for protection, when the institutions of State put in place to protect us are being progressively dismantled by opportunistic criminality and the trained personnel are also on the run?

    “It bears repeating for me to state here that Nigeria’s security architecture and the strategies currently adopted and deployed for national security, if any, need a comprehensive overhaul. It is not working. The needless waste of life everywhere, both those of trained security personnel and ordinary citizens, is a drain on the nation’s resources and an unacceptable diminution of our valuable human capital.

    “Every policeman or military personnel is someone’s father, mother, brother, sister, uncle, aunt or friend. The number and frequency of deaths is undermining our humanity, making us less sensitive to the gravity of the situation we are in today and also creating a new generation of Nigerians, who may get accustomed to inhuman acts as the norm.”

  • Killings: CAN cancels nationwide protest

    The Christian Association of Nigeria (CAN), has postponed until further notice its planned public protest slated for July 11, 2018.

    It said it did so due to some circumstances beyond its control.

    CAN President, Rev. Samson Ayokunle made the announcement in a statement signed by Pastor Adebayo Oladeji , his Special Assistant, Media and Communication.

    However, Ayokunle said the three-day prayer and fasting would hold as scheduled from July 9 to 11, 2018 in all churches and state chapters of CAN.

    He disclosed that the church and denominational leaders would come to the National Christian Centre together with the National Executive Committee (NEC), of CAN on the July 11 at 10am to pray to God for the nation.

    Recall that the leadership of CAN had declared July 9 to 11 as National Day of prayers and fasting programme against the killings across the country.

    The association also called on all Nigerians, both within and outside the country to take part in the programme.

    The association said the decision was hinged on the willful and persistent killings of fellow citizens in general and Christians in particular, mostly in Plateau and Benue states where mass burial has become the norm.

    ” CAN is worried, disturbed and disappointed that despite all the clarion calls on President Muhammadu Buhari to re-organise his security team by replacing all the security chiefs, he has consistently not responded to such calls,” the association said.

     

     

  • Killings: Again, CAN plans protest across Nigeria

    Killings: Again, CAN plans protest across Nigeria

    The Christian Association of Nigeria (CAN) says it is organising a three-day prayer and fasting to seek God’s intervention for an end to the growing rate of killings across the country.

    In a statement from the media assistant to the CAN President, Adebayo Oladeji, the association said it will also embark on a peaceful protest across the country on July 11 to register its dissatisfaction with the spate of killings.

    “The leadership of the Christian Association of Nigeria (CAN) has declared July 9-11, 2018 as national days of prayers and fasting against unwarranted killings in the land and calls on all well-meaning Nigerians, both within and outside the country, to join Christians on 11 July, 2018 for a peaceful protest against the killings.

    “CAN’s decision is hinged on wilful and persistent killings of fellow citizens in general and Christians in particular nationwide and mostly in Plateau and Benue where mass burial has become the norm without any positive response from the country’s security agencies.”

    The statement also expressed what the association’s disappointment over the failure of President Muhammadu Buhari to restructure the leadership of Nigeria’s security sector.

    “CAN is worried, disturbed and disappointed that despite all the clarion calls on President Muhammadu Buhari to re-organise his security team by replacing all the security chiefs, he has consistently turned a deaf ear to such calls. From all indications, the President seems to be satisfied with their poor performance and the attendant problems that have led to avoidable loss of lives and property.

    “We call on all Christians in the country and in the Diaspora to participate in the three-day prayers and fasting programme for God to end all the senseless, unwarranted, and selected killings in the country. If the government has failed us, we are very sure that Our God will never fail.

    “All National Executive Committee’s members of CAN, the Church and Denominational leaders have been invited to participate in a peaceful protest march to both the National Assembly and the State House to impress on the government to see the need to effectively stop the unprecedented killings.

    “CAN has also directed its leadership at the state and local government levels to organise the same Peaceful Protest March to the Government House and the Local government headquarters respectively on 11 July. We are to tell the government; enough is enough. We appeal to our members to be law-abiding before, during and after the protest.”

     

  • Killings: Senate bows to pressure, to revisit calls for State Police

    The Senate on Tuesday said it would revisit calls for State Police and design framework for mopping up 350 million light weapons suspected to be in circulation within Nigeria.

    President of the Senate, Dr Bukola Saraki, made this known while welcoming senators to plenary after a three-week Eid-el-Fitr recess.

    Saraki said that with the security challenges across the country, it seemed that the issues were an indication that it was time to revisit the issue of State Police.

    He said that the 350 million light weapons believed to be circulating around the country, had an alarming ratio of three weapons to one person.

    The Senate president said the responsibility for ensuring security lay with every Nigerian.

    “Issues of criminality are involved in these heinous acts, and the vigilance of community leaders and the average citizen is crucial to assist the security agencies to do their job.

    “Let me use this opportunity to call for calm on all sides.

    “We have called many times for unity and tolerance, and we must remind ourselves of the imperative of peace at this difficult time in our nation.

    “We are resuming plenary today under a pall of national anxiety and apprehension over the state of insecurity in the country.

    “We have been alarmed at so many senseless killings of Nigerians, with the high number of casualties in Plateau being among the most glaring of late,” he said.

    Saraki also said that moderation was needed in speech and actions of people as responsible citizens, even in what might be deemed as provocative situations.

    “We must, therefore, be careful of speech that has the potential to heat up the polity and heighten tensions.

    “We implore the media also to exercise great responsibility in their reporting. Fake news can lead to dire consequences that we can ill-afford.

    “Nigeria is the only country we have,” he said.

    He said that internal tensions were also a reflection of the economic condition of the citizenry, and urged all stakeholders to put Economic Bills on the fast lane “in order that we may conclude them.

    “This is so that we can open the door to greater opportunities for our people. Growth and development can only serve to deepen our democracy.”

    On the achievements of the 8th Senate in the last three years, Saraki said “indeed, we have come a long way and have set a new bar in the legislative history of this country.

    “We have passed 213 Bills in the period under review and cleared 138 Petitions, surpassing in three years, the records of the entire four-year terms of every previous Senate.

    “This is no mean feat. As we hit the home run, therefore, it is important we do not back-pedal or slow down.

    “We must intensify efforts towards doing all that we are sworn to do for the electorate that voted for us as their representatives.

    “With the backing of Nigerians, we have been able to introduce landmark legislations that have helped boost our recovering economy.

    “These include Companies and Allied Matters Act (CAMA), which is the most significant business reform Bill in Nigeria in nearly three decades.

    “As a result of the signing into law of the Secured Transactions in Movable Assets Act and the Credit Bureau Reporting Act, for instance, Nigeria was upgraded on the World Bank’s annual Ease-of-Doing-Business ranking.

    “This has been a very welcome development for our economy and for restoring investor confidence in our business terrain.

    “It was in the life of this Senate that we finally split the atom of the once intractable Petroleum Industry Bill (PIB), after almost two decades in the legislative wilderness.

    “We split the Bill into four manageable parts, and not only have we passed the first of those, the Petroleum Industry Governance Bill (PIGB).

    “We have started work on the remaining three, the Administrative, Fiscal and Host Communities components of the Bill and have already taken them up to public hearing stage.

    “The clock is ticking and we must ensure that we conclude work on the remaining PIB Bills as soon as possible. Nigerians deserve no less,” Saraki said.

    He further said that the Not-Too-Young-To-Run-Bill, which received Presidential assent on May 31, 2018, received wild jubilation around the country, due to the momentous generational shift it was expected to trigger in national leadership.

    “This is in paving the way for the greater participation of youths in governance.”

    Saraki called on the Executive to expedite the release of funds for the 2018 Budget implementation so that Nigerians could begin to see the positive impact in their lives without delay.

    “The work is not done. We as the senate must continue to exercise our oversight functions to ensure successful implementation and value for money.”

    He advised that as the country inched closer to the 2019 electioneering period, senators must not lose focus.

    “The divided attention of the legislature is not in the interest of the country. We must not be distracted.

    “It is incumbent on us, therefore, to not allow politicking get in the way of our first duty to the Nigerian people, as senators of the Federal Republic.

    “I charge us all to fasten our seatbelts and power on with the work we have been tasked to do.

    “Posterity is watching, and history will vindicate us if we do the job with diligence and in truth,” the senate president said.