The presidency said on Sunday that the ongoing killings linked to herdsmen are amongst the multifaceted implications of climate change.

The presidency also restated the claim by President Muhammadu Buhari that politicians are behind the killings, saying his administration has evidence to prove that.

He appealed to Nigerians to be patient and continue to live in unity while his administration finds a lasting solution to the crisis.

“The Presidency is appealing to all its citizens as well as members of the international community to refrain from spreading false stories and inflammatory statements concerning the recent herder-farmer clashes,” presidential spokesperson Garba Shehu said in a statement to PREMIUM TIMES Sunday afternoon.

Thousands of lives have been lost after decades of violent confrontation between farmers and pastoralists.

The violence has continued since Mr Buhari assumed office in 2015.

Most of the attacks have been against villagers in Benue, Taraba, Adamawa, Plateau and Nasarawa States in recent months. The attackers regularly storm settlements to carry out their carnage, often in large numbers.

As many as 500 people were killed in an attack that lasted for days without emergency response from security agencies in Agatu in 2016.

Towards the end of last month, about 200 people were feared killed in a weekend-long attack in Plateau State, a tragedy that shocked the nation because security agencies were said to be on ground in the state as part of a military operation.

In Benue alone, hundreds of villagers have been killed in relentless attacks since the January 1 killings that left over 100 people dead.

While some of the attacks are linked to herdsmen by security agencies, the possible culprits in many others remained unknown because they were never officially disclosed.

In recent months, Mr Buhari has blamed the attacks on remnants of former Libyan dictator Muammar Gaddafi’s militia. His top officials like the Defence Minister Mansur Dan-Ali and Inspector-General of Police Ibrahim Idris have blamed enactment of anti-open grazing laws in three states for the crisis and called for immediate abrogation those laws.

In today’s statement, the president, who continues to describe the killings as “farmers-herders clashes”, said the issues are complex to understand or resolve. He, however, promised that his government will explore all possible avenues to end the killings.

“The Nigerian government is working closely with state governments and the security services – as well as international partners – in order to resolve this ongoing issue.

“The clashes between herders and farmers are historical. The causes of these confrontations are varied and complex.

“Climate change, specifically the drying up of the Chad Basin, has led to more pressure on the population in the North of Nigeria, which further compounded the problem.

“As President Buhari indicated lately, there is evidence of involvement of some politicians using criminals to perpetuate the killings.

“Climate change is an issue of global significance and the Nigerian government is determined to continue working closely with its neighbours in order to ensure that a long-term solution can be implemented.

“The federal government makes no distinction amongst the population and works tirelessly to protect all Nigerian people.

“We are strongest as a nation when we are united and it is through unity that we will overcome this challenge,” Mr Buhari said.

The statement appeared aimed at dousing tension arising on the backdrop of growing allegations that the president is not disturbed by the bloodshed and is reluctant to end it.

Several groups, including faith-based entities, have staged protests to demand an end to the killing and for the president to declare armed herdsmen as terrorists, in the same manner as he proclaimed separatist Indigenous People of Biafra a terrorist organisation and proscribed it.

The president has pushed back against the allegations, and defended herdsmen as largely peaceful individuals who go about their businesses with sticks without access to heavy weaponry.

He said those behind the killings are not necessarily herdsmen but criminals whom he had ordered security agencies to ruthlessly confront.

Mr Buhari’s excuse that politicians are sponsoring a large chunk of the carnage has been debunked by his critics who mocked him as inadvertently admitting his own incompetence as president by complaining in the media when he should be deploying state resources to expose and clamp down on such politicians if indeed there is any truth to his claim.

Last month, the federal government launched an initiative aimed at ending the crisis. The plan includes the creation of large, government funded ranches in 10 states, whose governors the government said, are already part of the agreement.

http://saharareporters.com/2018/07/08/herdsmen-crisis-presidency-blames-climate-change-politicians-explores-solution

Federal government should face the responsibility of providing the needed amenities for Nigerians

Enough of giving excuses or defending what pdp or any party did

Do your best and let reasonable Nigerians decides

BRING THIS EVIL POLITIICIANS TO BOOK NOW MY PRESIDENT.
Stop treating them with kids glove.
Arrest and charge them to court to be locked in jail forever.

post=69204677:
BRING THIS EVIL POLITIICIANS TO BOOK NOW MY PRESIDENT.
Stop treating them with kids glove.
Arrest and charge them to court to be locked in jail forever.

He can do nothing

He’s a politician now

The truth is from my research and findings

Politicians are the ones behind this stuff

Apc and pdp knows

Though the crisis between the two exist before now

But they are using it for political gains

sarrki:


He can do nothing

He’s a politician now

The truth is from my research and findings

Politicians are the ones behind this stuff

Apc and pdp knows

Though the crisis between the two exist before now

But they are using it for political gains

The bolded is EXACTLY my point.
You think the President can't do anything to expose them?
If he can make them return some billions of dollars that was stolen (albeit not all), I believe he can also expose the evil ones wrecking all these havoc.
That will be a great stain on Baba' s administration then if he refuses to do nothing.
I believe in PMB.

Now blaming Whether!
Steeewpid confused human Beans! May your kind never Rice to power again! Come 2019, you be gravely Floured.

Always passing blames to others.......Irresponsible President

Blame anything and anyone but the fulani herdsmen that have actually come out to claim responsibility.

You must be sick in the head as a Nigerian not to see that there's an ulterior coverup here.

Climate change is not affecting the fulanis alone.

So its no longer 'politicians and oppisition'??...Fulani Presidency keep fooling yourselves.

E remain small make Buhari enter market because of all this yeye boju boju him wan play us.

post=69204897:

The bolded is EXACTLY my point.
You think the President can't do anything to expose them?
If he can make them return some billions of dollars that was stolen (albeit not all), I believe he can also expose the evil ones wrecking all these havoc.
That will be a great stain on Baba' s administration then if he refuses to do nothing.
I believe in PMB.

You question and answer yourself.. Nawa o

MeanChris:



You question and answer yourself.. Nawa o

Brb.......
We will come back to educate you

END OF DISCUSSION.

sarrki:


He can do nothing

He’s a politician now

The truth is from my research and findings

Politicians are the ones behind this stuff

Apc and pdp knows

Though the crisis between the two exist before now

But they are using it for political gains

That means, politicians were behind Bokoharam?

post=69206735:

Brb.......
We will come back to educate you

Educate me ke? I'd have just ignored you because that the best treatment for a restless spirit like you but for the sake of others I ask..

Why do people engage in any form of argument with people like you.. I don't think anybody that hasn't withdrawn his support for this administration since 2016 has a functional brain and you need not be given any attention.

Zombie wants to educate me.. me my brain is functioning.. Hey Z, hear this...

Otolo gbagbuo gi there!

If all the presidency knows how to do is to always give excuses on behalf herders and blame politicians for the killings of innocent citizens without bringing them to book, then there is a serious cause for alarm.

It's either those killed are systematically being killed by herders (terrorist) so as to take over ancestral land of the deceased or the govt of Buhari is not in charge again.

Lies from the pits of hell ...Farmers herder clash has nothing to to-do with climate change ...is Nigeria the only country on the world facing climate change ? Nigeria is even in world's top 20 owners of cattles ranking yet the govt isbclaiming cattle herders are killing people because the climate changed so how come Argentine and Brazillian or India cattle rearers haven't killed anyone in the countries yet ? How come cattle rearers in Chad are not killing Chadian despite Chad being the country most affected by the shrinking of the Lake Chad .... How come these cattle herders are only finding solutions to their climate change in minority and Christian communities.... With every statement release the govt shows that it has no intention of ending this needless crisis till the real agenda of these fake herders have been achieved ...This is no different for attacks carried out by supporter of APC against South Sudan targets on the past .

Blame blame blame everything for your incompetence.

Before it was Gaddafi's boys.
Before it was due to anti grazing laws.
Then... You blame politicians.

Now, your blaming climate.

You are still playing blame game after 3 years.

Your just politicizing the killings, while your kinsmen continues with the slaughter.

Thunder fire you there!

For thinking we are cows and joking with our collective intelligence idiot!

confuse president, the next thing is to blame IPOP, if it is in the east python will dance.

confuse president, the next thing is to blame IPOP, if it is in the east python will dance.

Fuckyoumod:
Blame blame blame everything for your incompetence.

Before it was Gaddafi's boys.
Before it was due to anti grazing laws.
Then... You blame politicians.

Now, your blaming climate.

You are still playing blame game after 3 years.

Your just politicizing the killings, while your kinsmen continues with the slaughter.

Thunder fire you there!

For thinking we are cows and joking with our collective intelligence idiot!

confuse president, the next thing is to blame IPOP, if it is in the east python will dance.