The Coalition of Civil Society Groups against terrorism in Nigeria, has expressed concern, over the largely negative impression, being promoted by a section of Nigerians, particularly in the social media, which is aimed at criminalising the Fulani ethnic group in the country, through their generalisation of the rampaging “Fulani herdsmen” colloration.
The group in a statement issued in Lagos, and signed by its Convener, Comrade Odeyemi Oladimeji, described those criminalising an entire ethnic group, as opponents of human rights and advocates of genocide, in a peaceful country like Nigeria.
“While commiserating with the immediate families of the victims of the condemnable killings of the past few days in Benue State, and the entire citizens of the State, we cannot but condemn the actions of some of our State’s chief executives in Benue State, whose actions, abuse of state power and the prevailing insecurity situation in their states, have led to the loss of the innocent lives of some citizens of the state,” the statement said.
The group accused some leaders in Benue of acting autocratically, in violation of the Constitution of the Federal Republic, which guarantees the right of every Nigerians, to live and work in any place of their choice, by forcefully evicting thousands of pastoralists, who are engaged in their legitimate businesses, under the guise of implementing the controversial anti grazing law in the State.
While as patriots and stakeholders in the Nigerian polity, we can no longer subscribe to this futile argument or some grandstanding on the perenial farmers/pastoralist conflict, which some have clandestinely exploited in Benue State for political reasons.
“We want Nigerians to be aware, of the ongoing attempt, by some states to raise illegal armies being presently recruited and armed with sophisticated weapons, under the guise of protecting their states, against some unknown attackers, when in the true sense of it, these states are merely exploiting the situation in Benue for obvious political reasons, which is aimed at recruiting political thugs, as the 2019 general election approaches.
“We cannot continue to fold our arms, and watch these individuals, frantically making political gains, out of a dangerous situation, which has continued to claim the lives of the innocent people of the state, as well as pastoralists, who are engaged in their lawful businesses.”
The group also advised that rather than creating laws and promoting actions, which seeks to divide and threaten the existing peace in these states of the country, state governors should focus their energy on issues, which has direct positive impact on the living standards of their people, and can guarantee the delivery of the dividends of democracy to the ordinary Nigerians.
The statement also described as unfair, the attempt by section of the country, to continually push every blames over the crisis, on President Muhammadu Buhari.
“Rather than blaming President Buhari and the security agencies alone, for the crises being witnessed is parts of the country, our people should know that President Buhari is a leader who has attested in words and deeds that the security of lives and properties of Nigerians anywhere they reside in the country is paramount and not negotiable.
By this statement, we call for an immediate end to all forms of political gimmicks in handling sensitive security issues particularly in Benue State.” the statement concluded.