We Will Expose Those Behind Herdsmen Attacks – CDS
General Gabriel Olonisakin, Chief of Defence Staff[/caption]
The Chief of Defence Staff (CDS), General Gabriel Olonisakin on Wednesday said, those found responsible for the recent attacks of the Fulani herdsman in many parts of the country will be punished.
The Director Administration at the Defence Headquarters, Major General Fatai Ali, who represented the CDS at a meeting with representatives of Fulani herdsmen, Miyetti Allah Cattle Breeders Association of Nigeria in Abuja yesterday, said the recent clashes in many parts of the country was a source of concern for the government and the military.
Recall that President Muhammadu Buhari stated this in his speech delivered by the Minister of Information, Culture and Tourism, Alhaji Lai Mohammed, at the public presentation of a book by the Deputy Senate President, Ike Ekweremadu, titled, ‘Who will love my country: Ideas for building the Nigeria of our dream’. Which He directed all security agencies to immediately secure communities under the attacks of herdsmen and ensure that no more lives are lost.
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“I want to assure that the military in conjunction with other security forces is doing everything possible to maintain peace and security in Nigeria in line with the directive of the Commander in Chief. I want to also assure that whoever is involved in these killing will be prosecuted in line with the laws of the land,” Ali said.
He also said the military was working hard to apprehend all those who have committed heinous crimes, noting that the only answer for development is peace.
“I would also wish to state that the military will not tolerate any excuse for armed groups to unleash violence on innocent Nigerians for whatever reason or guise,” he said.
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In his remarks, Senator Alkali Jajere who spoke for the Miyetti Allah said: “Our appeal is that you tackle this issue with professionalism, so that no innocent person, no herdsman who has not gone anywhere, would be apprehended or suffer injuries.”
He said government and the Miyetti Allah must ensure that the sanctity of life of a farmer or any other citizen or herdsman is protected.
“Fulani are killed like rats in the bush, and nobody announces it, but that is not an excuse also to say that anybody in the name of herdsman can go and kill anybody in this country and we allow it to go, that cannot happen,” he said.
He said the Miyetti Allah had visited all security agencies to warn about the recent upsurge in clashes.
Senator Jajere was accompanied to the meeting by the Miyetti Allah chairman, Mohammadu Kiruwa and the national secretary Usman Ingelzarma.
