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Tag: Killings

  • What we are doing to end killings in Kaduna, Benue, other troubled states – Buhari

    …as El-Rufai visits victims in Kaduna

    President Muhammadu Buhari has approved the establishment of a new Battalion of the Nigerian Army, as well as a new Police Area Command in the violence-prone Birnin Gwari Local Government Area of Kaduna State.

    The approvals are part of measures to scale up the security response to the banditry affecting the area, Buhari’s spokesperson, Garba Shehu, said in a statement on Monday evening.

    The emir of the town said on Monday that the death toll from the attack had risen to 58.

    Scores of people including soldiers and police officers had been killed in previous attacks by bandits in the local government.

    The president strongly condemns the latest massacre of innocent Nigerians in the area, Shehu said.

    “I am deeply outraged by this unwarranted, unprovoked and reckless destruction of lives by bandits who belong to the lowest level of civilization. I feel the pains and devastation of the families of the victims, and this administration will do everything possible to ensure we defeat these enemies of humanity,” Buhari was quoted as saying in the statement.

    Shehu said the new army battalion and the police area command are the latest in a series of law enforcement measures to ensure more effective protection of lives and property, in and around Benue, Kaduna, Taraba, Zamfara and Nasarawa States.

    Last week the Nigerian Air Force took delivery of two new helicopter gunships, for deployment to parts of the country affected by banditry.

    A Quick Response Wing has also been established by the Nigerian Air Force in Taraba State, while a Joint Military Intervention Force is fully on ground in Benue, Shehu said.

    However, despite the deployments in Benue and Taraba, killings have continued in both states.

    According to Shehu, President Buhari assures that security remains a priority for his government; and his administration will not tolerate the persistent killing of innocent people in order to set Nigerians against one another.

    “These persistent killings are not spontaneous; there are subterranean forces with a sinister agenda to instigate war in the country for selfish purposes,” the president was quoted as saying.

    “Although unconventional war is particularly complicated, our security forces are making rigorous efforts to better understand these enemies with a view to decisively checkmating their evil attacks.”

    Buhari extended his condolences to the families of the latest victims, the government and the people of Kaduna State over the tragedy. He assured that his government will never abandon them to their fate.

    Meanwhile, the Kaduna State Governor, Nasir El-Rufai, visited the affected Gwaska community in Birnin Gwari on Monday evening.

    At Birnin Gwari, El-Rufai met with the emir, Jibril Zubair, and community leaders before proceeding to Gwaska, the scene of the latest fatal attack.

    At the palace of the emir, El-Rufai expressed his sorrow and offered condolences to the people.

    “I came here to share the pain and anguish of our people, the predicament of innocent citizens whose lives were cut short due to the terrorism of bandits and criminals who have been tormenting us.

    “I and my team will be proceeding to Gwaska and other communities to see for ourselves and talk directly to the people. But I want to say again, that we are not sleeping and by the grace of God we will overcome this evil act and the terrorism being unleashed on our people.”

    In his response, the emir, Jibril Zubair, praised the federal and state governments for demonstrating commitment to the plight of his people.

    “We are grateful for your deep condolences and empathy. We are grateful for all your commitment to resolving the plight of Birnin Gwari people. As a member of the State Security Council, I am in the know of federal and state government commitment.

    “The IGP and the GOC were here and have confirmed the establishment of a Battalion of the army and Police Area Command. I am happy that you are going to Gwaska and other communities to see for yourself.”

     

  • Bandits planning to cause war with killings – Buhari

    President Muhammadu Buhari on Monday said the recent killings across the country is targeted at instigating war.

    However, as parts of measures to end killings, the president approved the establishment of a new Battalion of the Nigerian Army, as well as a new Police Area Command in Birnin Gwari Local Government Area of Kaduna State, as part of measures to scale up the security response to the banditry affecting the area.

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

    “These persistent killings are not spontaneous; there are subterranean forces with a sinister agenda to instigate war in the country for selfish purposes.

    “Although unconventional war is particularly complicated, our security forces are making rigorous efforts to better understand these enemies with a view to decisively checkmate their evil attacks,” Shehu quoted the President as saying.

    The presidential spokesman said Buhari strongly condemned the latest massacre of innocent Nigerians in the area.

    He said his administration would do everything possible to ensure that those he described as “enemies of humanity” are defeated.

    “I am deeply outraged by this unwarranted, unprovoked and reckless destruction of lives by bandits who belong to the lowest level of civilisation.

    “I feel the pains and devastation of the families of the victims, and this administration will do everything possible to ensure we defeat these enemies of humanity,” the President was further quoted as saying.

    Buhari assured Nigerians that security remains a priority for his government.

    He said that his administration would not tolerate the persistent killing of innocent people in order to set Nigerians against one another.

    The President extended his condolences to the families of the victims, the government and the people of Kaduna State over the tragedy.

    He assured them that his government will never abandon them to their fate.

    According to the statement, the new Army Battalion and the Police Area Command are the latest in a series of law enforcement measures to ensure more effective protection of lives and property, in and around Benue, Kaduna, Taraba, Zamfara and Nasarawa states.

    It recalled that last week, the Nigerian Air Force took delivery of two new helicopter gunships for deployment to parts of the country affected by banditry.

    It added that a Quick Response Wing has also been established by the Nigerian Air Force in Taraba State, while a Joint Military Intervention Force is fully on ground in Benue.

  • Killings: Osinbajo reinstates FG’s commitment to ensuring peace in Benue, others

    Vice President Yemi Osinbajo on Saturday said the Federal Government would not relent in its efforts at ensuring peace in crisis prone areas of the country.

    Osinbajo, who was represented by the Administrator, Aso Villa Chapel, Rev. Peter Ambi, said this during the National Peace and Leadership Summit organised by the Youth For Peace and Good Leadership Initiative International in Abuja.

    The theme of the Summit is `The Role of the Youth in Nation building’.

    He said peace was important for any peaceful development in the country, saying the killings in parts of the country must stop.

    “Nobody is happy about the killings in parts of the country, this administration is working to ensure that peace is restored to those communities.

    “The killings in mosques, churches and other public areas for one reason or the other must be stopped,’’ Osinbanjo said.

    He called on the youths across the country not to allow themselves to be used to cause havoc in the country, saying the youths should be peace ambassadors.

    The Chairman of Christian Association of Nigeria (CAN), 19 Northern states and FCT, Rev. Yakubu Pam, said the religious leaders are tired of conducting mass burials in affected areas in the country, saying there should be quick intervention.

    “ We need people with different and positive thinking and not people who think of vengeance,’’ he said.

    The National Chairperson of the Women Wing of CAN, Mrs Oyin Sowoolu, advised the youths to use their talents positively to move the nation forward, adding that the role of youths in the country should not be undermined.

    The Founder of the Youth For Peace and Good Leadership Initiative International, Mr Simon Dolly, said the purpose of the summit was to educate the youths as they were mostly the key actors of social vices in the country.

    Dolly said the youths should be able to complement the role of government in ensuring peace and contribute their quota in nation-building.

    He said the summit would be replicated in the six geo-political zones in the country, saying that the youths would be given certificate as peace ambassadors of Nigeria in order to encourage peace in the various areas.

    One of the youths at the summit, Stella Francis-Utah, said the youths needed to contribute to peaceful coexistence, adding that they should stop thuggery and any form of violence.

    The Youth For Peace and Good Leadership Initiative International is an NGO with the aim to promote peaceful co-existence and religious harmony in the society.

  • Special Report: ‘We’ll rather die in S/Africa’s xenophobic attacks than be killed by herdsmen in Nigeria‘

    Special Report: ‘We’ll rather die in S/Africa’s xenophobic attacks than be killed by herdsmen in Nigeria‘

    “What exactly are we doing in this country when our lives are daily threatened by arrogant herdsmen who are now renowned for killing unquestioned? Are you not bothered by the several killings in Benue, Zamfara, Kogi, Taraba and other states?

    What has the Nigerian government done about it? Who have so far been arrested? But people are buried in their countries on a daily basis just for being Nigerians? And you want me to be part of those people? That’s over my dead body!”

    These were the exact words of Biodun Ademola (not real names) as I questioned him and several others lined up eagerly on a queue to apply for South African Visa at VFS Global in Lagos on Monday last week.

    I reminded Biodun that other countries had their security, economic among other challenges – South Africa, in particular, was still dealing with xenophobic attacks especially on Nigerians, he impatiently said:

    “Yes I’ve heard and read of xenophobic attacks there but that has subsidized seriously now. Come to think of it, is it not even more justified to defend yourselves against strangers taking up your job and other means of livelihood than to lose your life to an animal in your country? A cow for that matter? If I perish in South Africa of xenophobic attacks, it’ll be more honourable than being hacked to death by a fellow Nigerian for being less valuable than a cow,” Biodun said unapologetically.

    On the fateful day, the number of applicants for both South Africa and Canada Visas were almost in their thousands. A further enquire from the processing company, VFS Global showed that South Africa receives the highest number of applicants with over 230 applications daily.

    VFS Global currently acts as the outsourced partner for the visa applications and processing of South Africa, Canada, Belgium, France, and other countries.

    Applicants including students, artisans, family, etc. start moving in their numbers to the Lekki office as early as 6am daily. They take numbers in order of arrival and would only be attended to by 8am.

    Amazed by the huge numbers of applicants for South Africa visa as against other countries, this reporter further asked a lady who appeared to be rough handled repeatedly by muscular guys queued behind her to jostle for a space ahead as the announcement was made by some security guards that the South African processing centre had received enough application for the day at just 10am! This will mean a repetition of the whole process by the following day. The lady was however determined not to give her space for anyone irrespective of the pressure.

    “Please, I don’t think I can entertain any question now,” She said firmly as I approached her. Feeling determined, I pestered her further, ‘Don’t you think things are not this hard in Nigeria for you to go through this kind of stress just to visit another man’s land as a second class citizen”? I asked knowing well that a thunderous and emotional response will follow.

    “What do you mean by that? Are you blind to the crazy things happening in this country? I know it’s pretty expensive to try UK or America Visa that’s why I decided to go for South Africa’s. From my researches, I know they have quality education and stable academic calendar, good road networks and a stable economy. What else am I looking for? I’ve thought this over and over and my mind is made up. Not even my parents can stop me from getting out of this frustrating place called Nigeria. I’m so done!,” she said sounding irreversible in her decision.

    However, lock ran out on her as officials stopped further consideration of fresh applicants by 10am citing reaching the maximum 230 daily benchmark. However, applicants for other countries were still being attended to because they are relatively low compared to those for South Africa.

    We stand in for applicants, fast track VISA processes – Agents

    As soon as the application timing elapsed, some of the agents who had been lurking around dishing out unsolicited advises and advertisement of their services to applicants offered to help stand in for applicants who might not make it early enough to the centre again the following day; Tuesday.

    One of such, a man in his early thirties looking smartly dressed approached me with the assurances that I can actually stay at home and get my visa processed within two days. He termed it ‘Non appearance.’

    “Bros, sorry you couldn’t get in to start your application. That’s how it happens here daily especially for South African and Canadian applicants. To be selected, you must have gotten here at least by 7am. However, considering the everyday traffic hassles of Lagos, applicants hardly meet up. But since you a working class, you might want to avoid all these stress. We can do it for you. We’ll stand in for you as early as 6am, take a number for you and you can come in to start up from there. Or we can finish the whole process for you without showing at all. Its Non appearance. We will even deliver your passport to you at the convenience of your house or office. All you need is just to supply us all your detailed information, pay us and you are done!,” he said sounding like an advertising guru.

    Asked what the cost implication is, he said: “It depends on the service you are opting for. If you want us to just pick a number on your behalf pending the time you come around to come start your application, we charge N5,000:00. Officially, the minimum time for processing of each application is six (6) days but we have our guys inside who help fast track the application and make it possible to get within two days. For that we charge N70,000:00 aside from the N35,000:00 non refundable processing fee that you pay to VFS Global. Our guys inside charge N65,000:00 while we take the remaining N5,000:00 for bringing business to them. The non-appearance is N150,000:00,” the agent said.

    Prodding further, I asked for the authenticity of claims bearing in mind the ‘Do not patronize touts and agents’ boldly written on the company’s wall. To which he responded: “Bros you don’t have a problem. This thing did not start today. We have done it for countless number of people but it’s all coded. The guys inside do it well and some of them even approach applicants while attending to them at the counter. I’ll give you my number and take you to my shop. I am very popular here and the security guys know us well,’ he assured.

    Deal with touts/agents at your peril – VFS Global

    However, in a swift rebuttal, the processing company, VFS Global warned strictly against dealing with anyone other than staff of the company. An official of the company who preferred speaking on condition of anonymity because he was not officially in position to do so said applicants dealing with touts or so called agents are doing so at their peril. He explained that applicants are treated on a first come, first serve basis daily and that applications and processed visas can’t be received by proxy.

    “Whatever those guys have told you is their own marketing strategy. We’ve continually sounded warnings that no one should patronize them. Several people have complained of how they disappeared with their monies and they are on their own.

    The application is simple enough for anyone to comprehend. Download application form on the VFS Global website. Fill and come for submission from Monday to Friday. For short term (holiday visa) you pay a total processing fee of N34,030 and N56,040:00 for long term (the fee might vary depending on what the applicant is going there for).

    It takes a minimum of six (6) working days to process each visa. We also provide applicants with premium lodge space at an additional fee of N10,000:00. In the lodge, applicants will have unhindered access to photocopy machine, light refreshements and can also seek special clarifications on any issue as regards their applications. However, this is not a guarantee that visa will be processed ahead of other applicants who did not subscribe to use the service.

    Asked if he’s aware that some of the staff collaborate with the agents outside to do shady deals, he said: ‘There nothing of such. They are only saying that to make you fall prey to their antics. Anyone found receiving bribes to in order to give special consideration to particular applicants will be summarily dismissed and handed over to the security agencies,” he said.

  • ADEBOYE WARNS: No election, No Nigeria next year if killings persist [Audio]

    ADEBOYE WARNS: No election, No Nigeria next year if killings persist [Audio]

    The General Overseer of the Redeemed Christian Church of God (RCCG), Pastor Enoch Adeboye on Friday warned Nigerian government to curb the incessant killings of Christians, while stressing that Nigeria may cease to exist as a country if the deadly act continues.

    Adeboye who made the declaration at the ongoing Holy Ghost service for the month of May, 2018 tagged: Greater Than Your Enemies [5]– with sub theme, ‘Habitation of the Almighty’, also warned that no country survives a religious crisis.

    While delivering the sermon during the service which was attended by TheNewsGuru.com, Adeboye called on the Buhari led government to urgently end the killings before it dovetails into a religious war.

    His words: ” A Bishop asked me sometimes ago that ‘Daddy, has God told you who will win the next year election, I replied him saying there will be no elections in Nigeria next year.

    “The Bishop asked if I was prophesying, but I said ‘No!’ what I said was out of reasoning – There will be no election because nobody will go out to vote if they aren’t sure they will return home safely.

    “I have seen war, I told you before when some people where agitating for war, there is nothing good about war, it is a terrible thing.

    A nation may survive cil war but no nation can survive a religious war. That Nigeria may live these killings must stop. So, All of you who loves Nigeria I want you to rise on your feet and pray that this killings stop so that Nigeria may live.”

    Listen to the audio:

    Recall that Boko Haram, herdsmen have made headlines for murdering and terrorizing Nigerians seemingly unabated.

    Specifically, only recently, some bandits suspected to be herdsmen led an attack that killed two Reverend fathers and 17 Christians in Benue State.

    Just some days ago, President Donald Trump of the United States joined the list of those criticising the President Muhammadu Buhari-led government over its inaction on the killings of Christians in Nigeria.

    The American leader said this while playing host to his Nigerian counterpart at the White House .

    “We have had very serious problems with Christians who are being murdered in Nigeria, we are going to be working on that problem very, very hard because we cannot allow that to happen,” Trump said.

     

     

  • Benue groups to drag FG before UN, ICC over incessant killings

    Sequel to the incessant killings by suspected Fulani herdsmen in Benue State, a coalition of socio-cultural groups in the state, comprising Mdgzou U Tiv, Idoma National Forum and Omi’Ngede, have resolved to drag the Federal Government before the United Nations.

    Also, a popular lawyer from the state, Prof. Agbo Madaki, has said that in addition to the efforts by the groups, the spate of killings in the state had left himself and other prominent persons in the state with no option but to drag the concerned authorities before the International Criminal Court at The Hague, Netherlands.

    They, therefore, called on the international bodies to carry out an immediate and an independent investigation into the “heinous” killings of Benue people, which they described as an act of terrorism.

    The groups also accused the Federal Government of being complicit in what they described as an attempt to wipe out the Tiv nation in the country.

    Speaking to newsmen on Friday, the President General, Mdgzou U Tiv, Chief Edward Ujege, said the group was already collating materials detailing the activities of herdsmen attacks in the state, which he said had led to the death of hundreds of people and destruction of properties.

    He stressed that the spate of attacks in the region was an act of terrorism, alleging that the Tiv people in Benue, Nasarawa and Taraba states had been the target of the series of attacks on the region by the suspected herdsmen.

    He said, “Our group, comprising of Mdgzou U Tiv, Idoma National Forum and Omi’Ngede, have decided to formally write the United Nations to raise the issue of the crisis in Benue State, particularly, the ethnic cleansing in Benue.

    “Within the past four months, hundreds of people were killed in Benue and properties worth billions of naira also destroyed, due to the activities of these herdsmen.

    “This is pure ethnic cleansing because the whole attacks have been on the Tiv ethnic group of Nasarawa, Taraba and Benue states. However, we have compiled all the attacks, the attendant casualties and destruction of property in all these areas, which we are attaching to our report.”

    The Amnesty International had said that as of January 30, the herdsmen crisis had claimed 168 lives, while it lamented in a statement by its country’s director, Osai Ojigho, that in 2017, 549 deaths were recorded across 14 states, while thousands were displaced.

    However, between January and the time of filing this report, several other persons had been killed, including the recent attack on Ukpor-Mbalom in Gwer East Local Government Area of Benue State, where 19 Tiv people, including two priests, were killed during morning Mass.

    Meanwhile, Madaki, who expressed his full support for the move to approach the UN, lamented that the killings had crippled every aspect of the lives of Benue people and the economy of the state.

    “This has left the state with no other available option than to lodge a formal complaint with the Prosecutor at the International Criminal Court of Justice at The Hague, who can in the process cause an investigation into the killings. It is not necessary that it must be the state government that would lodge the complaint,” he said.

    He added, “We lawyers, groups and individuals will collect data of these mindless attacks and lodge a formal complaint to the office of the Prosecutor so that those behind the killings can be investigated.

    “The good thing about the ICC is that, usually the person responsible for the crime or had the greatest responsibility for committing these crimes under the status has no immunity. So, if the President is behind the killings, he can be investigated.”

    He noted that under Article 7 of the Charter of the United Nations, “the security council can also make a reference to the International Criminal Court at The Hague for such person to be investigated.”

    According to him, the killings in Benue have a trace of terrorism.

    Recall that President Muhammadu Buhari had come under heavy criticism over his statements on the killings in the country during his visit to Taraba State on March 5, 2018, where he said the crisis in Mambilla Plateau in Taraba State had claimed more lives than herdsmen killings in Benue and Zamfara states.

    The President of the National Council of Tiv Youths, Chief John Akperashi, had described the President’s statement as the height of insensitivity, saying it was an attempt to trivialise the killings in the state.

    Meanwhile, the Chairman of the Nigeria Bar Association, Makurdi Branch, Emmanuel Agbakor, said a team of lawyers in the state had carried out an assessment of the level of destruction of lives and properties in the state with the intention to pursue legal action against the military and leadership of Miyetti Allah Kautal Hore.

    Agbakor, who frowned at the manner the Federal Government is handling the killings of innocent persons in the state by suspected herdsmen, said the branch had taken the government and the nation’s security chiefs to the ICC for their “unholy silence” over the killings.

    “What is happening in Benue is genocide; a crime against humanity, which is an international crime, among many others being perpetrated across the states in the country,” he added.

    Reacting to the killings, the Mutual Union of Tiv in the United Kingdom, known as MUTUK, said on Friday that President Buhari’s “failure” to act decisively on the killings in Benue State was condemnable, saying it had worsened the security situation in the state.

    In a statement by the President of the union, Mr. Kuram Gwakyaa, in Jalingo, the Taraba State capital, the union said it was high time the Federal Government stepped in to resolve the situation in Benue.

    The statement partly read, “The failure of President Buhari to act in time thus far is reprehensible and it is high time the government stepped in to resolve the wretched situation in Benue.

    “We acknowledge the need to act in any way we can and we the Tivs in the UK are working to identify further measures we can take in the coming days and will communicate these in due course. However, we will not stop telling the world what is happening in Benue until the international community turns its eyes on Benue and justice has been served.”

    The union also condemned what it described as “grotesque killings” in Benue and especially the most recent incident at St. Ignatius Catholic Church, Ukpor-Mbalom in Gwer East Local Government Area, where 19 Tiv people, including two priests, lost their lives in an attack on a church during morning Mass.

  • BREAKING: ADEBOYE BOMBSHELL: Nigeria will cease to exist if killings of Christians persist

    BREAKING: ADEBOYE BOMBSHELL: Nigeria will cease to exist if killings of Christians persist

    The General Overseer of the Redeemed Christian Church of God (RCCG), Pastor Enoch Adeboye on Friday warned Nigerian government to curb the incessant killings of Christians, while stressing that Nigeria may cease to exist as a country if the deadly act continues.

    Adeboye who made the declaration at the ongoing Holy Ghost service for the month of May, 2018 tagged: Greater Than Your Enemies [5]– with sub theme, ‘Habitation of the Almighty’, also warned that no country survives a religious. He called on the Buhari led government to urgently end the killings before it dovetails into a religious war.

    Recall that Boko Haram, herdsmen have made headlines for murdering and terrorizing Nigerians seemingly unabated.

    Specifically, only recently, some bandits suspected to be herdsmen led an attack that killed two Reverend fathers and 17 Christians in Benue State.

    Watch out for the explosive message.

    Details soon…

     

     

     

  • CAN lauds Trump, asks Buhari to ‘Sit Up’

    CAN lauds Trump, asks Buhari to ‘Sit Up’

    The Christian Association of Nigeria (CAN) says the comment of the United States President, Donald Trump, on the killings in Nigeria was the right thing and a wake-up call to President Muhammadu Buhari.

    During his meeting with Buhari at the White House on Monday, Trump described the killing of Christians in Nigeria as a serious problem.

    “We have had very serious problems with Christians who are being murdered in Nigeria, we are going to be working on that problem very, very hard because we cannot allow that to happen,” Trump said.

    And in its reaction, CAN said Trump hit the nail on its head, saying the Republican president told Buhari the right thing.

    Spokesman for CAN President, Pastor Bayo Oladeji, called on the Buhari administration to address the killings in the country.

    “We are happy that President Trump has told President Buhari the right thing to do. We hope and believe President Buhari would do the right thing and sit up. He has to sit up,” he said.

    “Every time we tell them Christians are being killed, they don’t want to listen, but that is the truth. If the President cannot protect Christians, we have two options, we fight back. The law of the land permits self-defence. Secondly, come 2019, we vote him out. If he says there is nothing Christians can do, let him dare us.”

  • Muslims are victims of senseless killings too, MURIC tells CAN

    The Muslim Rights Concern (MURIC) has called on the Christian Association of Nigeria (CAN) to see ongoing attacks by suspected herdsmen as not a sectional issue but a tragedy that befalls every body in the country.

    The group made this remark in reaction to last week’s call by the president of the Christian Association of Nigeria (CAN) for Christians across the country to hold demonstrations after church service on Sunday over killings in the Middle Belt and other regions of the country.

    Last Sunday Christians in states like Lagos, Akure, Osogbo and Ado-Ekiti held peaceful protests in response to the directive of the CAN chairman.

    MURIC’s director, Ishaq Akintola, said as much as his group respects the feelings of the Christians in the country concerning the development in the Middle Belt, CAN should also understand that Muslims are also direct victims of the herdsmen’s violence.

    “…We reaffirm our earlier position that Christians have not been the only victims of the killings around the country,” he said.

    He added that “Muslims are losing hundreds of faithfuls on a monthly basis in the North East as Boko Haram unleashes terror on the predominantly Muslim populace.

    Citing recent examples of communal violence as reference point, th MURIC boss said “36 Muslims were killed in Birane Village in Zurmi Local Council, Zamfara State on February 16, 2018.

    “Six Muslims were killed in Jidari Polo area of Maiduguri on April 26, 2018.

    “Even yesterday, Sunday 29th April, 2018, another 15 Muslims were killed in Bawon-Daji village, in Anka District of Zamfara. Again, more than 12 Muslims were waylaid and killed in Makurdi, the Benue State capital, when the corpses of the two priests killed in the Benue church attack were brought to the city. These are verifiable attacks by those free of the ‘lazymania’ virus.

    “So the question arises: why kill innocent Muslim travellers when peaceful protests were already being planned?

    “The pointable point is that we are all victims. Both Christians and Muslims have lost their members to criminals and blood-thirsty elements of our country.
    Professor Akintola however pointed out that rather than the CAN calling for a one-sided protest rally, it would have made more impact had both of the two religious groups had a joint protest.

    “Meaningful impact could have been made if both Christians and Muslims held a joint protest against the failure of government to stem the tide of killings.

    “That would make it impossible for observers to read meanings into yesterday’s protest. It would stop questions like, “Why are they demonstrating now? Is it because Buhari is a Muslim? Why didn’t they protest when Jonathan was in power? Were there no killings in Jonathan’s time? Do they want to bring Buhari’s government down?”.

     

  • Trump to Buhari: ‘We are against killings of Christians in Nigeria’ [Video]

    American President, Donald Trump on Monday told President Muhammadu Buhari that the United States is against the killings of Christians in Nigeria.

    Trump made the remarks in his welcome speech after expressing appreciation to Buhari for the visit.

    Trump called on Buhari to account for unchecked atrocities against Christians in his country and also spoke on the killings coming from the ends of Boko Haram insurgents.

    READ: [Video] Nigeria has strong reputation for massive corruption – Trump

    “Also we have had very serious problems with Christians who are being murdered in Nigeria, we are going to be working on that problem very, very hard because we cannot allow that to happen,” he said.

    Recall that Boko Haram has made headlines for murdering and terrorizing people in Nigeria, in this case President Buhari is allowing members of his own ancestral group — the Fulani — to attack innocent communities.

    The unimpeded actions of “militant Fulani herdsmen,” are creating a humanitarian crisis of shocking proportions in Nigeria.

    Indeed, most people have never even heard about this brutal group, which earlier this month executed an attack that killed 19 Christians in Benue State.

    He also asked Buhari about what he had done with the issue of the kidnapped Nigerian girls, to which Buhari answered that Nigeria has not given up about their rescue, detailing the efforts of his administration to have them brought back.

    Mean, President Buhari who narrated to Trump how he was able to secure the release of girls abducted in Dapchi, Yobe State thanked his host for agreeing to have America sell the Tucano Jets to Nigeria, for which $496m has so far been paid.

    Trump meets Buhari #TheNewsGuru #TNG

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