HERDSMEN: Plateau elders counsel Buhari on Danjuma’s advice

Elders of Plateau State on Friday urged President Muhammadu Buhari to urgently take decisive steps to address killings of Nigerians, especially in Middle Belt states, by herdsmen.

They said that it will be risky for the president not to take seriously the comment by the former Defense Minister, Theophilus Danjuma, in respect to the incessant attacks and killings by the herdsmen.

Danjuma had alleged that killer Fulani herdsmen are carrying out ethnic cleansing under the protection of the Nigerian Army and called on Nigerians to stand up and defend themselves and forget any thought of being protected by Nigerian security forces.

In a statement issued on Friday in Jos, and signed by Chief John Mankilik, chairman of the elders’ forum in Plateau Central Zone, the elders warned that Danjuma’s statement must not be dimissed.

The elders, who were reacting to continuous attacks and killings in rural communities in Plateau State by herdsmen added that Danjuma spoke the minds of many of the victims of the attack, warning that if nothing is done to nip the ugly killings in the bud that it could lead to anarchy.

The elders’ statement read in part, “Security issues are sensitive. Danjuma is a first class security man and knows when soldiers are ready to discharge their role. It is risky to dismiss his suggestion.

“We believe that Danjuma spoke the minds of the helpless victims of the violence. Many people are being pushed to the wall and may heed such call if nothing is done to change the tide.”

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They emphasized that the President Buhari administration should do more to protect Nigerians, especially in Plateau, Benue, Kogi, Nasarawa, Taraba and Kaduna States, from incessant killings by their attackers.

They lamented the recent killings at Daffo District in Bokkos Local Government, where 30 lives were allegedly lost with many still missing.

Also, they rued the killings of some traditional rulers, citing a first class ruler of Ron-Kulere, Dr. Lazaru Agai, as among those who have lost their lives to the devilish attacks.

 

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