The Sultan of Sokoto and President General of Jama’atu Nasril Islam (JNI), Muhammad Sa’ad Abubakar, on Sunday rose stoutly in defence of his kinsmen over widespread allegations that Fulani herdsmen have been responsible for the serial massacre of people in farming communities in different parts of the country.
In a statement issued on his behalf by the secretariat of JNI, the Sultan said it was “absurd” that some Nigerians were attributing the killings to Fulani herdsmen, thereby ascribing ethnic and religious connotations to what was purely a security problem.
The paramount ruler expressed shock and deep concern on the incessant killings and maiming of innocent lives and the destruction of public and private properties, but urged the relevant security agencies to fish out the perpetrators of these atrocities and punish them.
“It is indeed absurd and most unfortunate that certain groups or people ascribe the incidence on ethnic and/or religious premise and to whimsically apportion blame in order to batter the gradual restoration of peace and security in Nigeria. We, therefore, call for a thorough investigation by appropriate agencies in order to fish out the evil perpetrators, bring them to justice and forestall reoccurrence.
“The repeated heinous acts of attacks are crimes against the citizenry and the perpetrators are, therefore, criminals and must be treated so,” he said.
He condemned the brutal murder of people in Agatu Local Government Area of Benue State and the most recent massacre in Ukpabi Nimbo, Enugu State and urged relevant security agencies to brace up to the trends, in order to put a stop to the ugly tide of violence.
According to the Sultan, human lives are sacred and must be seen to be treated as such, adding that the repeated attacks were another trend of insecurity that portends grave danger to the nation.
“We must thus be cautious of packaging crimes on religious and ethnic garments. Crimes are abominable and whoever commits them is criminal. Security agencies should brace up in being proactive and utilise maximally intelligence reports in order to nip in the bud possible eruptions of security problems within and around communities.
“We must not forget so soon the adverse effect of the so-called Boko Haram group, that claimed many thousands innocent lives.
“Hundreds have been abducted, the males forced into insurgency and the females into slavery. Millions more are wallowing in Internally Displaced Persons (IDP) camps in Nigeria and in Refugee Camps in neighbouring countries.
“Public and private properties worth trillions of naira have been destroyed,” the Sultan said.
He condoled with the families of those who lost their lives and sympathized with all victims of the attacks while urging government to take proactive and effective measures in addressing this security challenge.
Meanwhile, the Indigenous People of Biafra (IPOB) has condemned the statements credited to 19 northern governors that the Fulani herdsmen were not behind the killings associated with them across various parts of the country.
The group spoke against the backdrop of the outcome of the meeting of the Northern Governors’ Forum held in Kaduna State last week.
IPOB, in a statement signed by its Director of Media and Publicity, Emma Powerful, accused the northern governors of encouraging terrorism in the country because of the way they defended the herdsmen in their statement after the Kaduna meeting.
“The statements by the so-called governors, who were elected to protect the lives and property of the people, proves to the whole world that they are the sponsors of the new emerging terrorist group in disguise as Hausa-Fulani herdsmen and cattle herders.
“However, the massacre of our brothers and sisters by Fulani terrorist group in Igbo land will not be in vain because God Almighty created us.
“The northern governors’ condemnation of the killing of our people in Agatu in Benue State, Uzo-Uwani Enugu State and Delta State after they had promoted those who committed the heinous crime is hypocritical because it doesn’t reflect the true character of people who respect the rule of law,” the statement said.
IPOB challenged the South-East governors to emulate their Northern counterparts in supporting their own.
“We, IPOB worldwide, in a strong term call on the governors in Igbo land to read meaning into the statements made by their counterpart in the north.
“More so, IPOB worldwide calls on the South-East, South South governors, lawmakers, politicians, traditional rulers, and elder statesmen to sit up for what is coming, because the terrorist group have perfected plans to exterminate the people of Biafra through the Fulani cattle herders.
“We are disappointed that the Department of State Services (DSS), Police, Army and other security agents have not, by now, arrested anybody. The DSS has not come up with a report on how the culprits will be arrested.”
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