By Israel Bulus, Kaduna
A Coalition of Middle Belt groups rose from exhaustive meeting in Jos, the plateau state capital, commending the courage of retired Gen. TY Danjuma’s outburst on Nigeria armed forces for taken side with herdsmen. The group cited several incidences in the last eight years in which army have been similarly accused.
The coalition, in a statement issued and signed by 10 different bodies, and made available to journalists Thursday, in kaduna cited the ineffectiveness or otherwise of the connivance during the killing of 500 persons in Dogo NaHawa village, in Plateau State, in 2010.
It continued that “They were accused of complicity in the killing of 75 Irigwe people by herdsmen in Bassa LGA of Plateau State in 2017, where military personnel lured the villagers into a classroom and locked up there after seizing their mobile phones.” “Armed men moved in within minutes and move them down. Military personnel were likewise suspected of involvement when a Bank Account Identity Card belonging to a Nigerian Army soldier was found at the scene of an attack in Heipang village, Plateau State. The Nigerian Air force has still not explained why it targeted and bombed victims of herdsmen attacks in Adamawa State in January 2018”, they stated.
The continued that “The Coalition of Middle Belt Groups cited several incidences in the last eight years in which our Armed Forces have been similarly accused. They were accused of ineffectiveness or connivance during the killing of 500 persons in DogoNa Hawa village, Plateau State, in 2010. They were accused of complicity in the killing of 75 Irigwe people by herdsmen in Bassa LGA of Plateau State in 2017 where military personnel lured the villagers into a classroom and locked up there after seizing their mobile phones. Armed men moved in within minutes and mowed them down. Military personnel were likewise suspected of involvement when a Bank Account Identity Card belonging to a Nigerian Army soldier was found at the scene of an attack in Heipang village, Plateau State.
“The Nigerian Air force still not explained why it targeted and bombed victims of herdsmen attacks in Adamawa State in January 2018. Nigerian Army’s Operation Ayem Akpatuma in Benue State was meant to flush out killer herdsmen but seems to have opened up routes for the massive infiltration of the State by the invaders. This resulted in more killings even on the day that President Buhari was visiting the State. The foreign press and Transparency International have accused the Nigerian Armed forces of complicity and committing atrocities. Culprits have always been allowed to escape. Instead of investigating these accusations, the Armed Forces only issue rebuttals and denials that do not convince anyone. It is true that our country is gradually sliding into a state of anarchy as insinuated by Gen. Danjuma.
“Self-defence as advocated by General Danjuma is a fundamental human right and a natural survival instinct permitted by statute. The Coalition of Middle Belt Groups therefore demands that the President and Commander of the Armed Forces rises to the occasion by upholding the oath of office he swore to and protect the lives and properties of all Nigerians. We also want the perpetrators of these dastardly acts in the Middle Belt and elsewhere to be brought to book”, it lamented.
While they commended former Chief of Army Staff and Minister of Defence, Rtd. General Theophilus Y. Danjuma for declaring that the Nigerian ArmedForces have not been neutral regarding the current spate of unprovoked killings by herdsmen in the county, the group stated that “The highly respected elder statesman also said that the activities of the murderous herdsmen were being aided and abetted by our Armed Forces personnel.”
He therefore advised Nigerians to defend themselves in the circumstance.
The group welcomed the addition of the voice of Gen. Danjuma to those of others who have condemned the senseless cold-blooded killings and the complicity of the security agencies.
