Stakeholders decry FG’s nonchalance over Benue killings

Group Wants Police Boss Sacked
As the recent killings by herdsmen in Benue State continue to elicit reactions from Nigerians, some stakeholders have decried the lackadaisical attitude of the Federal Government, even as the Youth Wing of the Christian Association of Nigeria (YOWICAN) called for the sack of the Inspector of General of Police (IGP).

This came as Nigeria’s former High Commissioner to Canada and Second Republic Senator, Prof. Iyorwuese Hagher, accused President Muhammadu Buhari of betraying his campaign promise to “always act in time and not allow problems to irresponsibly fester.”

In a statement, the National President of YOWICAN, Mr. Daniel Kadzai, noted that IGP Ibrahim Idris’ statement last week that the Benue incident was a communal crisis “has confirmed our earlier communiqué accusing the IGP of executing an Islamic agenda with his office.”

Kadzai said the IGP’s insensitive comment was not only capable of causing war, but has proven that he was acting out Buhari’s script designed to depopulate Christians using Fulani terrorists.

He said: “If Buhari is still interested in keeping Nigeria as an indivisible entity, the IGP should be sacked now, or the country will run into trouble due to the highly inflammable statements he is making.

“Why didn’t Idris say the killing of Fulani herdsmen in Numan last November was a communal crisis? When herdsmen kill Christians, it is communal clash. But when Fulani herdsmen were killed in a reprisal in Numan, he addressed the suspects as Bachama militias.”

Warning that Christians would no longer tolerate any further attack, he said it was now clear that security agents are supporting mass murder.

Similarly, in an open letter to the President titled: “You Have Betrayed Democracy And Promoted Genocide,” Prof. Hagher, who is now President African Leadership Institute U.S.A., disclosed that Buhari failed to take proactive steps to stop the killings.

Hagher reminded the President that the protection of citizens’ lives and property is more important than the war against corruption.

In an interview with The Guardian, the Executive Director of Cohesion, Peace and Development Initiative in Africa, cpdAFRICA, Uwem Oku, called on Buhari to dispel the ethnic and religious coloration given to the attacks and take measures to disarm the Fulani herdsmen.

Oku said the action of the herders threatens national security and noted that conflict prevention is cheaper and preferable to management or resolution.

Another stakeholder and former chairman of the Nigeria Bar Association (NBA) in Benue State, Donatus Zuanah, said Federal Government’s failure to act decisively on incessant Fulani herdsmen attacks on farmers in Benue and other parts of the country is unfortunate and worrisome.

Zuanah said government was giving the impression that the perpetrators are untouchable or that it lacked the political will to act in accordance with the law and protect defenseless citizens.

The CAN chairman in Benue State, Rev. Akpen Leva, called for the immediate arrest and prosecution of the leadership of Miyetti Allah splinter cattle breeders group, Kautal Hore, which threatened Benue people following the enactment of anti-open grazing law in the state.