Politics
By Samuel Ibezim
The Middle Belt Forum, MBF, has called on President Muhammed Buhari to reconstitute the security chiefs of the Nigerian security forces for failing to protect the area from the purported Fulani herdsmen that have been killing people of the area in the past three years.
In a statement made available to Realnews and signed by Pogu Bitrus, president, MBF, the group similarly asked Buhari to work with the legislature in the bid to commence the process of constitutional amendment, for proper restructuring of Nigerian federation. It urged federal and state lawmakers to immediately start it with devolution of power to various levels of government as the only solution to peace in Nigeria that has multi-ethnic, multi-culture and multi-religions.
“The refusal of the inspector general of Police to stay in Makurdi as directed by the President in January and the recent comment of the minister of Defence directing states to suspend the anti-open grazing laws of their various states are clear evidence that they are not interested, willing or able to be fair to the people of the Middle Belt,” the statement said.
More so, the MBF noted that in the recent killings of more than 200 persons in Plateau State by Fulani herdsmen even children were not spared. It recalled that herdsmen and his people that were predominantly farmers had lived together for over a century where their differences were amicably solved until of recent when herdsmen started attacking them with sophisticated weapons in the open with no challenge from any security agency.
Consequently, the group said thousands of the people had been killed, several communities were sacked and property worth billions of Naira destroyed, among others.
The MBF reminded the government of its responsibility of ensuring the security of lives and property, which it had breached by creating an avenue for the killing of Middle Belt people. The group said that it was worrisome that nothing had been done to the Miyetti Allah Cattle Breeders Association of Nigeria, MACBAN, despite owing up to the multiple bloody attacks being witnessed in the region.
“To all communities in the Middle Belt: We call on the entire people of the Middle Belt to organise themselves in their communities to defend themselves and their property as the government has abdicated its responsibility to protect them. Section 33 of the Nigerian constitution guarantees every citizen the right to life and nobody should be deprived of that right. The right to private self-defence is constitutionally recognized to protect that right to life.” the MBF statement said.
– June 27, 2018 @ 16: 25 GMT |
Tags: has called on President Muhammed Buhari to reconstitute the security chiefs of the Nigerian security forces MBF The Middle Belt Forum
