Niger Delta militants may tackle Nigerian govt over herdsmen killings

A coalition of Niger Delta militants on Sunday expressed worries over incessant killings of Nigerians by herdsmen and warned that it was not going to continue to fold its arms and allow the carnage to persist.

The group also gave the Federal Government a 21-day notice over herdsmen’s killings, especially the latest of over 100 including toddlers in Plateau State.

The Niger Delta militants made their position on the vexed issue of herdsmen known during a meeting at Ikot Abasi, Akwa Ibom State, where they also called on the federal Government to devolve power to states and regions to allow governors discharge their primary responsibility of protecting lives and properties in their states.

In a statement released sequel to the meeting and signed by leader of the coalition, W.O I Izonebi, the militants said. “As agitators with conscience, we take lives of fellow Nigerians sacrosanct as no amount of provocation will lead to the slaughtering of innocent Nigerians because of cows.

“We, therefore, declare 21 days of mourning for the innocent Nigerians killed in Plateau State by foreigners trained by late Gaddafi that are now masquerading as herdsmen, according to our President, Muhammadu Buhari.

“We urge the government to do the needful before the expiration of our 21 days of mourning to avoid a total breakdown of law and order because it seems we do not have law, and government is unable to implement its primary responsibility of protecting lives and properties of its citizens.

“We demand implementation of the following to avoid doom and more loss of lives: The immediate devolution of power to states and regions to enable governors discharge their primary responsibility of protecting lives and properties and declaration and proscription of the Gaddafi mercenaries masquerading as herdsmen as a terrorist organisation.

“The government and security agencies saddled with the responsibility of protecting Nigeria and its territorial integrity should apprehend the perpetrators of this heinous crime against innocent Nigerians and humanity; total overhaul of the security organisation and security chiefs, immediate arrest of the Miyeti Allah Cattle Breeders Association leaders and its disbandment with immediate effect.

“After our successful emergency meeting convened on June 30, 2018, at Ikot Abasi in Akwa Ibom State, we, the 21st Century Youths of Niger Delta and Agitators with Conscience, strongly condemn the gruesome murder of about 200 innocent Nigerians in Plateau State by the so-called Gaddafi mercenaries masquerading as herdsmen.

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“We condemn the ungodly and provocative statement of the Miyeti Allah Cattle Breeders Association, applauding and justifying the killings as a reprisal attack because of supposedly killed 300 cows.

“We also condemn the inability of the government and security agencies to protect its citizens from foreigners masquerading as herdsmen committing genocide in the Middle Belt of our dear nation, Nigeria.

“We are not going to fold our arms to see foreigners masquerading as herdsmen slaughter and kill hardworking Nigerians that are going about their legitimate businesses and livelihood anymore, when we have a democratically elected government in place.”

The militants went further to say, “We are bold to ask these questions? What is the primary responsibility of government? Why is nobody being arrested and prosecuted for these killings? As agitators with conscience, we take lives of follow Nigerians sacrosanct as no amount of provocation will lead to the slaughtering of innocent Nigerians because of cows.

“The 21st Century Youths will no longer keep quiet and fold its arms to watch this ungodly, demonic genocide to continue in this 21st century”.

 

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