Blaming Fulani Herdsmen For Benue And Enugu Killings is totally Absurd – Sultan Of Sokoto Says

An organisation led by the Sultan of Sokoto, Sa’ad Abubakar, has described as “absurd” and “unfortunate” the widespread insinuation that Fulani herdsmen are responsible for the attacks on villagers in Benue, Enugu, Nasarawa and other parts of the country.

The Jama’atu Nasril Islam, JNI, a coalition of several Islamic groups in Nigeria, stated this on Sunday. The Sultan is the head of the JNI. In the statement, signed by Khalid Aliyu, the organisation’s secretary-general, the JNI said it was shocked by the attacks.

“Jama’atu Nasril Islam (JNI) received with great shock and deep concern the news of incessant killings and maiming of innocent lives and the destruction of public and private properties. “Of particular concern are the brutal murders of people in Agatu-Benue state, Nnibo-Enugu state and some parts of Nasarawa state.

“It is indeed alarming that within few weeks, deadly attacks were reportedly unleashed while the perpetrators go un-arrested. JNI therefore condemns in strong terms these repeated heinous attacks and once again calls on the relevant security agencies to brace up to the trends, in order to put a stop to this ugly tide, as human lives are sacred and must be seen to be treated as so,” the statement said. The JNI said the attacks were criminal in nature and should be treated as such. “The repeated heinous acts of attacks are crimes against the citizenry and the perpetrators are therefore criminals and must be treated so.”

Foramfera It, however, said the attacks were not carried out by Fulani herdsmen. “It is indeed absurd and most unfortunate that certain groups or people ascribe the incidence on ethnic and/or religious premise and to whimsically apportion blame in order to batter the gradual restoration of peace and security in Nigeria,” it said.

The JNI, which commiserated with the victims of the attack, also called for “concerted introspection and commitment by relevant agencies to take proactive and effective measures in addressing this pernicious problem.” Nigerians have condemned the attacks; and affected communities have blamed security agencies for not protecting them against their attackers who they said were herdsmen. Many Nigerians have also blamed President Muhammadu for not acting strongly enough to condemn the attacks and arrest the perpetrators.

Nobel Laureate, Wole Soyinka, who criticised the presidency’s response, stated that “I have yet to hear this government articulate a firm policy of non-tolerance for the serial massacres that have become the nation’s identification stamp.”

The JNI, however, said the authorities have absolved the herdsmen, mainly of Fulani ethnicity, of involvement in the attacks. The JNI’s claim is contrary to that of a leader of the Fulani herdsmen who admitted to PREMIUM TIMES that they carried out the attack in Benue as a retaliation to the murder of some of their leaders “Well, the Commissioner of Police, Enugu State has debunked the rumours, likewise the Inspector General of Police has also debunked the insinuations over those being blamed,” the JNI said.