20 Nasarawa farmers, herdsman killed, 8,175 Kaduna bandits, others arrested
The pan-Northern socio-political organisation, Arewa Consultative Forum, has accused the President, Major General Muhammadu Buhari (retd.), and northern governors of creating impression that lives of those who are being killed in the North by bandits do not matter.
The ACF, which stated this in a statement in Kaduna on Monday by its National Publicity Secretary, Emmanuel Yawe, condemned the gruesome killing of 38 persons in four communities in the Giwa Local Government Area of Kaduna State on Sunday.
Group said this as herdsmen killed 20 Tiv farmers in Nasarawa State between Friday and Monday in what was reported to be a reprisal.
During the attacks in Lafia, Obi, and Awe Local Government areas of the state, 5,000 people were displaced.
Also on Monday, the death toll in the killings in Kaduna State rose to 40 as the state government disclosed that two more corpses had been recovered, just as it was learnt that a monarch was killed in Idasu area of the state.
In the statement titled, ‘ACF cries out against killings in the north,’ the ACF slammed the President and northern governors for not visiting, empathising with victims of attacks in the region.
“The President and the northern governors are unwittingly creating the impression that only their lives, those of their immediate family members and their office matter,” the ACF said.
The northern organisation expressed its total disapproval, frustration and anger over what it said appeared to be endless killings in the region.
It urged the federal and state governments to show empathy and sympathy over the gruesome murder of the defenceless villagers.
The ACF noted that the President and the state Governor, Mallam Nasir El-Rufai ought have visited the scene of the attacks.
However, the forum noted with sadness that Buhari had “never felt it necessary to do so(visit).”
It said, “The Arewa Consultative Forum will like to put on record its total disapproval, frustration and anger agaisnt what appears to be endless orgy killings in Northern Nigeria.
“The latest incidence took place in the Giwa Local Government Area of Kaduna State where 38 innocent citizens were hacked to death.
“According to Samuel Aruwan, the States Commissioner for Internal Security and Home Affairs, many houses, trucks, cars and food crops were destroyed during the attacks.
While the ACF joins the Governor of Kaduna and the President of Nigeria in consoling those who suffer losses during the latest attack, we call on all the state governments and the Federal Government to show more empathy and sympathy in such grave security breaches.
“Nothing stops the President and a State governor from visiting such places. We sadly note that he has never felt it necessary to do so.
“In fact following his example, not one governor has done so except Governor Zulum of Borno.”
It added, “Just a few days ago also in Uba Askira in Borno, where 10 people were killed and uncountable numbers taken away.
“The people affected by these savage attacks are thus left to think that their lives don’t count.”
Herdsmen attack Tiv villages, kill 20 Tiv farmers, 5,000 displaced
Also on Monday, no fewer than 20 Tiv farmers were killed and 5,000 others displaced in Lafia, Obi, and Awe local government areas of Nasarawa State following attacks on 12 communities by gunmen suspected to be herdsmen.
A source, who spoke to The PUNCH on the condition of anonymity in Lafia on Monday, said that the attacks started after the herdsmen discovered the corpse of their kinsman in a community in the Obi LGA.
He said, “The killings started since Friday and up until now, our people are still running and looking for where to hide because the herdsmen are fully armed. About 20 people have been declared dead by their relatives and I heard our community leaders saying that 5,000 Tiv farmers have been displaced as a result of the attack.”
The President of Tiv Development Association in the state, Peter Ahemba, revealed that 20 corpses of his kinsmen had been recovered across the 12 affected communities in Lafia, Obi and Awe LGAs.
He mentioned the communities to include Chabo, Daar, Tse-Udugh, Ayaakeke, Kyor-Chiha, Usula, Hagher, Joor, Tyungu, Ugba, Angwan and Ayaba.
He said, “Over 5,000 persons have been displaced across 12 communities and about 20 corpses have been recovered with the support of security agencies. Scores are still missing in bushes and we don’t know whether they are alive or dead”
He added that the inhabitants of affected communities were killed by the suspected herdsmen. He called on both the state and the federal governments to do everything possible within their powers to restore normalcy to the affected communities.
Confirming the incident, Police Public Relations Officer in the state, Ramhan Nansel, said that a complaint was made on Friday that one Mr Umaru Idrisu of Gidan Washi Village in Obi LGA was attacked and killed by unknown armed men.
He explained that upon receipt of the complaint, the Commissioner of Police, Adesina Soyemi, ordered the Divisional Police Officer in Obi LGA to move to the scene where the corpse was recovered and later taken to the hospital for a post mortem before it was released to the family for burial according to Islamic rites. Punch
