Nasarawa killings: Fulani leaders protest in Abuja
The Miyetti Allah Cattle Breeders Association of Nigeria (MACBAN) Nasarawa State chapter yesterday in Abuja demanded the arrest and prosecution of soldiers allegedly responsible for the killings of 32 Fulanis in Rugar Ardo Sodangi, Nasarawa State.
Speaking during a protest on the killings at a joint press conference, leaders of the Fulanis among them Alhaji Baba Usman Ngelzarma MACBAN National Secretary, and Alhaji Salihu Musa Umar National Assistant PRO and Alhaji Mohammed Hussaine Nasarawa State Chapter Secretary were unanimous in condemning the recent rising antagonism to Fulanis in parts of the country.
Hussaine said what happened in Keana was genocide and should not be swept under the carpet.
He said: “The Inspector General of Police M. D. Abubakar recently dispatched the DIG in charge of operations, Mr. Michael Zuokumor to our dear state to resolve the crisis between the Fulani and our Tiv counterparts. The effort yielded positive results as both parties not only agreed to sheath their sword.
“However to our greatest surprise, on Thursday, the 3rd of this month at about 9am, I received a phone call from our people in Keana that some military personnel had stormed some of our people’s communities in a convoy of over 10 vehicles including armoured tanks and raided the residents of Rugar Ardo Sodangi, Nasarawa State.”
He said the soldiers met a group Fulanis who were there on condolence visit most of them between 60 and 80 years old and killed most of them.
He said the women were assaulted saying “We are convinced beyond reasonable doubts that there is a grand plot to eliminate the Fulani from Nigeria.”
Hussaine also demanded apology from the federal government; payment of compensation to injured victims and to the families of those killed, and also the withdrawal of soldiers from Nasarawa State.
Umar on his part warned that if government did not take action on the matter he fear a situation that may lead to another insurgency similar to Boko Haram by aggrieved people protesting the killings of innocent persons.