Impunity, injustice has increased killings under Buhari —US envoy

The United States of America has revealed what they believe has been responsible for the incessant killings across Nigeria especially in the Middle Belt and northern Nigeria.

The US government said that clear existence of impunity, where people are committing serious crimes and get away without being brought to justice was the cause of killings, which appears to have been on the increase under the administration of President Muhammadu Buhari.

This was stated by the Deputy Chief of Mission and Charge de Affaires, US Embassy in Nigeria, David Young, when he spoke with newsmen on Sunday night in Jos during his fellowship with church leaders in Plateau State.

While he urged Buhari’s government to ensure that it strengthened the country’s “laws to deal with killers,” he also called on his government to see that the Independent National Electoral Commission conduct free, fair, transparent, peaceful and credible process general elections in 2019.

“We want partners in ways to ensure that the kind of violence we have seen over the past months don’t flare up in any election”, he said.

Young, a member of the Methodist Church in the US, was reacting to questions on how to end the incessant wanton killings and crisis between farmers and Fulani herdsmen in Plateau State, after he delivered a sermon entitled, “Living as a Christian in a multi-religious and multi-cultural context.”

He also used the opportunity to pay tribute to the 83-year-old Imam of Nghar village, Gashish District, Alhaji Abubakar Abdullahi, who reportedly saved 300 persons, including Christians when suspected Fulani herdsmen struck on June 24.

He went further to also reiterate the condolences of the Donald Trump’s administration to the families of those massacred by Fulani herdsmen who attacked some communities in the Barkin Ladi Local Government Area of Plateau State.

The acting US Ambassador to Nigeria said, “On behalf of the United States government and American people, I want to express again our condolences on the tragic loss of lives across Plateau, North-Central and North-West states. Quite a lot of people have died; it has been very terrible tragedies. We want to affirm the sanctity of human lives and anytime a person dies, it is a tragic loss, be that person a Christian, Muslim, Berom, farmer or herder.

READ ALSO: Even Biafra war didn’t witness killing of children like under Buhari –KOWA Presidential aspirant

“I think it is clear, we know and government knows that as well. A lot of people are doing good things and working hard. But it needs to be even more because it is clear that there is a climate of impunity. When people are committing serious crimes, they get away with it, without being brought to justice.

“It is so important that there should be very strong efforts to make sure that people are brought to justice for these terrible crimes. It is also important to address the drivers of conflicts, address opportunity, fight poverty and provide jobs and hope for young people because definitely young people are getting into terrible groups. They really need to be part of the future and as such need mentoring and parenting.”

 

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