Buhari Has No Excuse Not To Label Miyetti Allah As Terrorists – Ohanaeze

The apex Igbo socio-cultural organization, Ohanaeze Ndigbo Worldwide, has chided the federal government for the manner at which it handled the recent killings in Plateau State.

In a statement signed by Emeka Attamah, the Media Aide of the President-General of the organization, on Thursday, the group attacked President Muhammadu Buhari for comparing the killings in Plateau state to that of Zamfara.

Describing the comparison as unfortunate, Attamah said the government should rejig its security apparatus and appease affected families.

The group said following recent trends, it appears the government may not be neutral.

“The President General of Ohanaeze Ndigbo described the comparison by President Muhammadu Buhari of killings in Plateau State to those of Zamfara State as most unfortunate,” the statement reads.

“It believes that no human life was greater than the other and that two wrongs do not make a right.

“Rather than compare the number of casualties, the Federal Government should rejig its security apparatus, stop further killings and appease the families and communities affected by the senseless killings.

“Allay the fears of the people, especially with the double standards being exhibited by the Federal Government in the handling of the issues of Indigenous People of Biafra, IPOB, and the suspected herdsmen.

Recall that several months back, former Defence Minister, retired Gen. Theophilus Danjuma, called on Nigerians to use whatever means at their disposal to defend themselves against killers.

Danjuma had claimed that that there was a grand design by some people to carry out ethnic cleansing in the country and that the Nigerian military was colluding with them.

The group questioned why the government is yet to proscribe Miyetti Allah the umbrella body of cattle herders and prosecute its leaders.

It wondered what should be the “punishment for those herdsmen alleged to have killed more than 200 people in a Christian-populated area in Plateau State if five Christians have been condemned to death for allegedly killing a herdsman”.

“Ohanaeze Ndigbo observes that while the Federal Government proscribed IPOB which is a harmless organization, Miyetti Allah which has openly claimed responsibility for most of the attacks for just the killing or rustling of their cattle has been going around freely.

“If government could label IPOB a terrorist organization, there was no reason that Miyetti Allah, the umbrella body of cattle herders should not be proscribed and their leaders prosecuted,” the statement added.

“Ohanaeze is asking: how many suspected Fulani herdsmen have been taken to court for either the killings in the country or for carrying Ak-47 rifles about in the full glare of security operatives, contrary to the provisions of the law.”