PRESS STATEMENT ON THE CURRENT HERDSMEN / FARMERS CLASHES IN BENUE STATE AND ENVIRONS BY THE NIGERIAN BAR ASSOCIATION
The Nigerian Bar Association (NBA) notes with greatest displeasure and serious concerns recent unwarranted killings and carnage in various states of the Federation most especially in Benue, Taraba and Nasarawa States as result of Herdsmen and Farmers Clashes.
The NBA offers its deepest condolences to the Governments of Benue, Taraba and Nasarawa States as well as families of those who lost their relations as a result of these unfortunate and preventable incidents.
The NBA condemns in strongest terms the seeming inability of both the Federal and States Governments to curb the perennial clashes between the Herdsmen and Farmers across the country.
The Nigerian Bar Association under the leadership A.B Mahmoud SAN, pledges it's support for policies, programmes and legislations that would produce permanent resolutions to the incessant Herdsmen/Farmers clashes across the country.
The Nigerian Bar Association calls on the Federal Government to activate all constitutional measures to urgently douse mounting tension between the herdsmen and farmers. The NBA also calls on all parties in the crisis to desist from further use of negative languages that might escalate the situation at hand.
No nation, under the rule of law would stand by and allow mindless criminalities and wanton destruction of lives and property to go on unchecked as this would be an open invitation to anarchy.
The President of the NBA shall within the shortest possible time lead a high powered delegation of the Nigerian Bar Association on a fact finding mission to Benue, Taraba and other states affected by similar crisis in order to further parley with the affected communities in finding a common resolution of the clashes and prevent future occurrences.
The NBA urges the media to show restraint in Its reportage of the clashes in order to prevent further escalation to other areas.
Thank you.
Aare Isiaka Abiola Olagunju
General Secretary, NBA
