he Church of Nigeria, Anglican Communion, has condemned the way by which President Muhammadu Buhari led administration is handling the menace of herdsmen in the country. This was made known by the Bishop of Awka Diocese, Dr. Alex Ibezim, after rising from its 2018 synod at the St. Peter’s Anglican Church, Amawbia.
The Church of Nigeria, Anglican Communion, has condemned the way by which President Muhammadu Buhari-led administration is handling the menace of herdsmen in the country. This was made known by the Bishop of Awka Diocese, Dr. Alex Ibezim, after rising from its 2018 synod at the St. Peter’s Anglican Church, Amawbia.
The Bishop wondered why the Fulani herdsmen issue is been handled with levity, noting that a group that had killed and displaced thousands of Nigerians should not be treated as kinsmen.
He lamented that the return of democracy in 1999 that ought to be a kind of political liberation has been allowed to divide the citizens into religious and ethnic cleavages.
Ibezim said, “Nigeria, a major oil producer and Africa’s most populous nation and second-largest economy, is facing challenges. Most political parties are much more concerned about upcoming elections rather than the burning issues of the country.”
“Political liberalisation ushered in by the return to civilian rule in 1999 has allowed militants from religious and ethnic groups to pursue their demands through violence.”
“Separatist aspirations have also been growing, prompting reminders of the bitter civil war over the breakaway Biafran republic in the late 1960s.”
It added that just when the country was getting relief from the Boko Haram insurgency and its numerous atrocities, another terrorist group, which he referred to as Fulani herdsmen, sprouted.
The church said, “Fulani herdsmen, nomadic cattle grazers, have been named one of the deadliest terror groups in the world comparable to Boko Haram, ISIS, the Taliban and al-Shabaab.”
“The group has done enough havoc to be acknowledged by the global community as the fourth deadliest terror group in the world.” noting that between 2014 and 2018, herdsmen had killed over 1,229 people across the country with Benue, Taraba, Nassarawa, Plateau, Kaduna and Katsina as the worst hit states.”
“They are armed with sophisticated weapons and usually attack their target communities at a time they are most vulnerable such as at midnight or on Sundays when they are in church, killing people indiscriminately and burning houses and looting properties.”
“Most worrisome is the brutality and impunity with which the assailants operate without regard for the law and the sanctity of human life. The Nigerian police and even the military seem powerless to defend the victims from being mercilessly slaughtered in their homes.”
“It is unfortunate that this level of criminal impunity is happening in a sovereign nation with a constitution which declares that the security and welfare of the citizens shall be a major responsibility of the state.”
“Perhaps we need to ask why the police and the military are incapable of protecting the farmers from violent attacks by Fulani herdsmen. Is it true that the Fulani militias are better armed and sometimes outnumber the police?
“Why is it difficult for the Federal Government to contain the terror of the Fulani militia? Who are those arming the Fulani herdsmen to unleash mayhem on innocent and defenceless Nigerians?”
“Nigerians are tired of speeches and condolence messages to victims. If this country will continue to remain as one, then those who perpetrate crime must be dealt with accordingly without minding whose ox is gored.”
It further described President Buhari’s anti-corruption fight as lopsided and ineffectual. He said, “It does seem the fight against corruption for which this administration was voted into power has slowed down, if not jettisoned.”
“People had expected prompt prosecution and incarceration of offenders, to deter others, but what we witnessed was a situation where some key officials of this administration were involved in unwholesome acts, capable of tarnishing the image of government.”
“The latter did not respond effectively or looked the other way, thereby eroding the confidence of the people in the fight against corruption.”
“A government that is serious in fighting corruption should not engage in lopsided appointments, reducing some sections of the country to second class citizens or entrenching ethnic chauvinism in its policies.”
NIGERIA NEWS gathered that the synod also called on politicians not to pursue the 2019 elections “with senseless desperado and indiscretion.”
source: https://www.nigerianews.net/ibezim-condemns-buhari-herdsmen-issue/
