...President not doing enough to end killings – Reps

...IG removes Plateau CP

...FG has failed, says CDHR

John Ameh, Olusola Fabiyi, Olalekan Adetayo, Friday Olokor, Adelani Adepegba, Alex Okere, Godwin Isenyo and Gibson Achonu

President Muhammadu Buhari on Tuesday faulted those who accused him of being silent on killings being carried out by suspected herdsmen in parts of the country.

He said there was injustice in such aspersions.

According to a statement by his Senior Special Assistant on Media and Publicity, Garba Shehu, the President spoke during an interactive session with stakeholders in Jos, Plateau State, over the recent attacks that left scores of people dead.

Buhari said people were blaming him for not talking to the herdsmen probably because he looked like them.

He appealed to Nigerians to avoid inflammatory utterances that could endanger peace or promote conflicts.

The President said, “Whatever is being given to the media, we have to be very responsible about it.

‘‘Take for instance the situation in Benue. The Benue subsistence farmer knows that the Nigerian cattle herder that he knows doesn’t carry nothing more than a stick, occasionally sometimes something to cut grass to feed his cattle.

‘‘But the present herder, I am told, carries AK47 and people are even blaming me for not talking to them because maybe (they say) I look like one of them.

‘‘There is some injustice in these aspersions.”

Buhari directed security chiefs in the country to remain vigilant and ensure the protection of lives and property.

He also urged traditional and community leaders to complement government efforts by persuading their constituencies to tolerate one another for peace and unity in the country.

The President added, “I will continue to pressurise members of the law enforcement agencies directly under me by the constitution as the Commander-in Chief.

“About eight days ago, we had five hours security meeting of the service chiefs and the Inspector-General of Police.

‘‘What happened here in Jos is very bad. The question of leadership, from your household to whatever you are, is justice. The bottom line is justice.

‘‘That is why wherever I go, I will always appeal to the leadership of the communities and the law enforcement agencies, to always have control over their constituencies.”

Buhari, who was accompanied to the meeting by Governor Simon Lalong of Plateau State and his counterparts from Kebbi and Niger, condoled with the affected families, the government and people of the state, and wished those injured a speedy recovery.

Others in his entourage were the ministers of Defence, Mansur Dan-Ali; Interior, Abdulrahman Danbazzau; and Information and Culture, Lai Muhammed.

Also with Buhari was the Chief of the Air Staff, Air Marshall Sadiq Abubakar and the Inspector-General of Police, Ibrahim Idris.

The major stakeholders in attendance were senior government officials, National and State House of Assembly members, traditional rulers, leadership of the Christian Association of Nigeria and the Ja’amatu Nasril Islam in Plateau State.

The President’s visit came less than 24 hours after a similar visit by Vice-President Yemi Osinbajo (SAN) who met with the stakeholders.

Earlier in his remarks, Lalong blamed parties in the conflict in the state for reneging on their agreement to maintain peace, leading to the recent upsurge in violence, after nearly three years of calm and normalcy in the state.

“We are concerned as a state that the sophisticated weapons used in these attacks, from the evidence on the ground and the narrations of victims, are not those conventional to our environment for self-defence but reflective of a terrorist invasion.

‘‘It, therefore, demands a justified response like that which was undertaken to address the Boko Haram insurgency,” he said.

The governor also requested that given the number of villages completely ravaged in the violence, the Federal Government should establish an Emergency Special Intervention Fund to help reconstruct the destroyed communities.

Killings, senseless, barbaric, says NLC

Meanwhile, the killings attracted more condemnations on Tuesday with the Nigeria Labour Congress saying that the government must design a framework for peace to end the bloodshed.

The congress said it was disturbed by the range of targets, the duration of the attacks and the scope of casualties and destruction.

The NLC President, Ayuba Wabba, said in a statement in Abuja that the statistics were numbing, describing the incident as senseless and barbaric.

He added that it threatened to shatter once and for all the bonds of brotherhood and peaceful co-existence.

According to him, the security agencies, though stretched, must be seen to do more to restore the confidence of the civil populace.

“If the emerging allegations are true that the attacks went on unchecked for hours, then something needs to be done about the reaction time of our internal security operations in the state.

“Beyond this, the Federal Government and Plateau State Government in consultation with the parties to this bloody conflict should design a framework for an enduring peace,” Wabba insisted.

He called on the governments to quickly move to rebuild the devastated communities and restore shattered lives while admonishing the victims against reprisals, stressing that it could not bring the much needed peace in the state.

Speaking in the same vein, the Nigerian Baptist Convention, FCT chapter, and the Christian Association of Nigeria, North-Central geopolitical zone, condemned in strong terms, the killings.

FG has failed, says CDHR

The Committee for the Defence of Human Rights said the killing was a sign that the Federal Government had failed.

The CDHR in a statement by its National Publicity Secretary, Henry Ekine, decried the state of insecurity in the country.

According to him, the right to life is guaranteed under Section 33 of Chapter IV of the Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria, 1999, as amendment, as well as under the African Charter on Human and Peoples Rights (Article 4); the International Convention on Civil and Political Rights (6) and the Universal Declaration of Human Rights (Articles 3).

The CDHR said, “The state has the primary responsibility to ensure the security and welfare of the people, as provided under section 14 (2) (b) of Chapter II of the Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria, 1999, as amendment.

“Such mass killing was apparently akin to genocide and indicative of a failing state. The government has indeed failed in its core responsibility to protect lives and property of citizens at all times and in all parts of the country.”

Atiku condemns killings

Also a former Vice-President, Alhaji Atiku Abubakar, and a former Minister of Special Duties, Alhaji Tanimu Turaki, condemned the killings.

The two chieftains of the Peoples Democratic Party made the condemnation in separate interviews with journalists after their interaction with the Forum of PDP Former State House of Assemblies Presiding Officials in Abuja on Tuesday.

Atiku, a PDP presidential aspirant, who described the killings as unfortunate, stressed the need to adopt measures including community dialogue to address the lingering crisis.

He said, “I just listened to a former deputy speaker, a lady for that matter, and she made two points; hard and soft powers in resolving the crisis. I like that idea.

“It is not every security breach you can you use hard power on. You need to establish dialogue between the leadership of various communities that lived together over the years.”

On his part, Turaki, another PDP presidential aspirant condemned the killings saying every single life that was lost had the potential to do a lot for Nigeria.

He attributed the killings to the failure of the APC-led Federal Government and failure among various security agencies.

“If you recall, few months ago the National Security Agency had appeared before the Senate and disclosed that the greatest problem that the Nigeria security agencies have today is that the agencies work at cross purposes. There is no cooperation, there is no synergy.

“If critical security agencies are not sharing information or working together then how do you expect them to come up with tight security architecture that will safeguard the lives and property of Nigeria? And that is what is happening.’’

He commiserated with the people and government of Plateau over the loss of lives.

Buhari not doing enough to end killings – Reps

Also, the House of Representatives said President Buhari must take immediate steps to halt the killings by herdsmen in the country.

It noted that the country could not afford to continue to lose its citizens as if human lives no longer matter.

The Leader of the House, Mr. Femi Gbajabiamila, told The PUNCH in Abuja that to contain the killings, the President and the government should think harder about the appropriate measures to bringing a lasting solution.

Gbajabiamila added, “The President and the government will continue to do all they can to arrest these killings and surely more needs to be done.

“It is absolutely difficult to understand why human life should be so cheap.

“Christians are being killed; Muslims are being killed. What is important is that they are human beings and the killings must stop.

“This is a strange phenomenon in Nigeria. Perhaps, it requires government to think outside the box and do something extra-ordinary.

“It requires an urgent and surgical fix.”

PFN tells Buhari to stop killings, warns against reprisal

On its part, the Pentecostal Fellowship of Nigeria commiserated with the families of the bereaved and urged Nigerians to refrain from reprisals to enable the government to perform its constitutional responsibilities.

The National President of the PFN, Rev. Felix Omobude, in a statement on Tuesday, lamented that the lives of Nigerians had been cheapened by mindless criminals who swooped on unsuspecting residents and killed them without restrictions.

He, therefore, called on President Muhammadu Buhari to live up to his responsibility of ensuring the safety of lives and property, adding that “any government that cannot protect its people does not deserve to remain in office.”

The cleric stated, “President Muhammadu Buhari should immediately bring the mindless killings going on in the country to a halt because Nigerian lives, whether Christians or Moslems, are very important. The perpetrators of these dastardly acts must be fished out and punished appropriately.”

Omobude added, “Never in the history of Nigeria have the lives of Nigerians been so cheap. Today, people in any guise can kill with impunity and get away with it.

“Hundreds of people are being slaughtered at regular intervals and the criminal elements seem not to be brought to justice. There is the need for our government and security forces to be proactive instead of reactionary.

The President had after a closed-door meeting with government officials, security agencies and traditional leaders in Plateau State said he was committed to the protection of lives and property and would not run away from the responsibilities for which he was elected in 2015.

The President appealed to the people to bury their differences and work together for the peace of the state.

IG removes Plateau CP

However, Idris has removed the Plateau State Commissioner of Police, Undie Adie.

The removal of Adie followed the killing of more than 100 people by herdsmen in three local government areas of the state on Sunday.

The spokesperson for the Plateau State Police Command, Matthias Tyopev, a Deputy Superintendent of Police, in a statement on Tuesday, stated that a Deputy Commissioner of Police, Bala Ciroma, had replaced Adie.

Tyopev stated, “Today, 26th June, 2018, a new commissioner of police, Bala Ciroma, has assumed duty as the Commissioner of Police, Plateau State command.”

He also said the IGP had directed Adie to report to the force headquarters in Abuja.

The new commissioner, who is from Yobe State, was previously a deputy commissioner of police, criminal investigation and intelligence department, at the force headquarters in Abuja.

Osinbajo confirms arrests of suspects

Also on Tuesday, Osinbajo confirmed that some persons had been arrested in connection with the killings.

According to a statement by his Senior Special Assistant on Media and Publicity, Mr. Laolu Akande, the Vice-President disclosed this during a meeting he had in the state on Monday with the leaders and representatives of communities related to the conflicts.

Osinbajo did not however disclose the number of the suspects arrested.

APC govs to visit Plateau on Friday

The Imo State Governor and Chairman, Progressives Governors’ Forum, Rochas Okorocha, has indicated that the APC governors will visit Plateau State on Friday.

The governor disclosed this on Tuesday at the Sam Mbakwe International Cargo Airport on arrival from Abuja after the national convention of the party.

According to him, while on the visit, the governors will assess the situation and interact with the governor of the state.

He said, “I, with the rest of the governors of APC, condemn in its entirety these unwarranted killings of innocent souls, and shedding of blood. We have called them insurgents. We’ve called them Boko Haram, we have called them all kinds of baptismal names and because the situation is not properly defined, most people hide under the cloak of religion of Christianity or Islam to create harm.”

http://punchng.com/its-unjust-to-say-im-silent-on-killings-by-herdsmen-buhari/

Animal in Crase Man Skin.
What is even more unjust is that you are still pretending to be Nigerias president with all the Ethnic Cleansing. Nigeria is presently better off without a president.
Nigeria never witnessed this level of massacres under IBB & ABACHA MILITARY REGIME combined. Failed propandist animal

There are certain people in this country that cannot hear the truth nor see the good. They feed on bad news and always wishing for the worst. Wailing is their cursed.

May God continue to protect the people of this country from all evils

Mr president, even herdsmen know by themselves that u are on their side, and u don't value human lives, but cows life.

fulaniHERDSman:
Animal in Crase Man Skin.
What is even more unjust is that you are still pretending to be Nigerias president with all the Ethnic Cleansing. Nigeria is presently better off without a president.
Nigeria never witnessed this level of massacres under IBB & ABACHA MILITARY REGIME combined. Failed propandist animal

People like you are just systematically mocking and celebrating the death of the people in the middle belt to promote your Evil party and separatists movement.
God will expose the hypocrites.

You thought governing Nigeria was easy. Lousy powermonger.

Where are the elites and why aren't they speaking out Don't understand this eerie silence

What's going on really

. The people enjoying this ( PDP) can only be behind this happenings .

papoudaupolos:

People like you are just systematically mocking and celebrating the death of the people in the middle belt to promote your Evil party and separatists movement.
God will expose the hypocrites.

Just as you celebrated during Jonathan's era, its called karma bro

Sometimes I wonder if those with whom he planned to unleash the blood of dogs and baboon mixed together are not the same fulani herdsmen. A kinda preparation gone awry.

I agree it's unjust to say he is not doing anything about the killings.
How can you accuse him of not doing anything?
The first question to ask is:'does Buhari have the competence,intellectual,mental,non-clannish and non-nepotic capacity to act as president?'
The resounding answer is No!
So how can someone be accused of not giving something he doesn't have in the first place?

That guy call president is a robot. No! Calling him Robot is even prestigious, cos' robot has conscience. This man doesn't know what is conscience. Talks anyhow. If you doubt me askl him to talk without modern lying script. You'll be marvel on the amount of hate speech he'll vomit.

*Restructuring is the Best at this stage not another Election.

You are fool for not declaring them a terrorist group after declaring unarmed IPOB a terrorist group.

papoudaupolos:

People like you are just systematically mocking and celebrating the death of the people in the middle belt to promote your Evil party and separatists movement.
God will expose the hypocrites.

The hypocrites are the ones yet to declare Fulani Herdsmen a Terrorist group.

Who have you arrested?

papoudaupolos:
. The people enjoying this ( PDP) can only be behind this happenings .

If you dont know what to say shut your mouth, did these killings start today?

All I saw is Buhari and his long talks.

The myetti is still walking around despite admitting knowing about the attack
Despite the continuous murder, his fulani led security council have yet to be dismantled despite showing lack of interest to resolve the conflicts.
No fulani have been caught and killed for the atrocities they've committed. The few they paraded around to decieve the masses, after the first initial media propaganda, no follow up on what occurred, and no court cases announced.

He was quick to send military to ND to kill and harass innocent civilians on the disguise they are fighting militant. Quick to attack militants that were fighting injustice being metted out by Nigeria on the lands of ND. Quick to proscribe Tompolo till he went to hiding. Quick to proscribe ipob that haven't killed anyone nor walking around with guns as terrorist. Quick to send army to kill innocent civilians for practicing their alienable rights of asking for sovereignty, quick to send the military to either kill or kidnap Nnamdi Kanu and his family while pretending he had no hand in his disappearance as if we the masses are stupid enough to believe the narration that he escaped to Ghana. He escaped to Ghana and they report they are aware of his whereabouts but yet have not gone there to pick him up. You are only decieving your zombies. Quick to attack BBOG for protesting. Quick to harass Amnesty International for reporting his repeated human rights abuse. Quick to kill and harass Shiites Muslims but yet extremely slow in reacting to his barbaric tribe continuous kills.

Actions speaks louder than words. Buhari and his terrorist party have already proven they are indeed terrorist whom support the herdsmen's barbaric ways. The only person he's decieving with this long spittle is the usual zombies.

The president has done nothing to stop these killings, with the obvious incabability of the heads of security agencies how many of them has he changed to send a message to others to sit up and do their jobs.

Buhari is not just silent on these killings, he is also complicit. He was quick to declare IPOB a terrorist group, but has been foot dragging on the fulani herdsmen terrorists menace. Like General Danjuma said, 'They collude, they collude, they collude'. Buhari is a failure and all their agenda will fail.

papoudaupolos:

People like you are just systematically mocking and celebrating the death of the people in the middle belt to promote your Evil party and separatists movement.
God will expose the hypocrites.

Screenshot for us anywhere you be condemned this carnage and I will deactivate this moniker.


You are a disgrace for playing politics with human life.


Shame on you

Nonsense

Total bullshit

Justice do not prevail in Nigeria

People get killed under your leadership

Nobody has been made to face d wrath of d law for committing dis murders

How can d head of miyetti Allah go on national TV and justify that cows equals human life

The issue is not your silence buhari..it is the fact that you are aiding abetting them from all indications..Which is more dangerous.

That is the issue.

EternalTruths:


The hypocrites are the ones yet to declare Fulani Herdsmen a Terrorist group.

And why should they be declared a terrorists group
For merely being a fulani who's an herdsman?
It's not a group or an organisation created with clearly stated malicous aims and objectives unlike ipob,so I see no reason why they should be poscribed because there exists criminal elements amongst them.
What about buhari? would he also declare himself a terrorist.
I guess,probably,that there exists xtians who are fulani and who own cows.

shit president!

very unjust o, jare.
9ja jus fulof bad bele pipu...

Where is Tinubu..why is he not talking and condemning this mass murder in Plateau..why is he silent.? Of cos the coward cannot say anything because he knows that his file will be dusted and shown to him if he does that..the monster he helped to become president is now our night mare..Right now, na only to contest nai he sabi do and to bad mouth PDP! and his stupid loyalist will never see his silence in the face of this these numerous atrocities but only active during political campaign.

You body langauge & delibrate failure to act is telling it all Mr.President.

The president's response here is already borne out of guilty conscience.Buhari is a fanatic Islam terrorist.

Human Lives are precious. The Bible says "Thou shall not killed". You are The President of Nigeria nw, ne, cs, sw, se and ss. With the Instruments of Power in your hand to stop the killings, please stop the killings everywhere.

papoudaupolos:
There are certain people in this country that cannot hear the truth nor see the good. They feed on bad news and always wishing for the worst. Wailing is their cursed.

May God continue to protect the people of this country from all evils

Its unfortunate Mr President allowed this to happen by actions and inactions.

He has waited too long, even his body language is making many including his supporters to speculate on his position.

Every action he takes now will be calculated as 2019 gimmick