August 8, 2020 | EASTERN PILOT By: Dhakirah Mawuli As an effort to end insecurity and relentless killings, the Nigerian government led by...
August 8, 2020 | EASTERN PILOT
By: Dhakirah Mawuli
As an effort to end insecurity and relentless killings, the Nigerian government led by President Muhammadu Buhari has begun a process of dialogue with armed Fulani herders in the country, a source said on Friday. Islamic Fulani herders have targeted many Christian communities, mainly those occupied by farmers, and have killed thousands in numerous attacks.
Attacks and killings have not slowed amid the global coronavirus pandemic. According to the source, the new dialogue will focus on disarming the violent herders, creating a favorable environment for them and compensating them “where necessary”.
“The government is also planning to set up settlements for most of them who live in the forests. The success of the dialogue will be determined by the leaders of the herdsmen,” the source also said.
In 2019, Nigerians protested against a controversial bill calling for the establishment of settlements across the federation for violent herders.
A report by José Luis Bazán, independent researcher and analyst, based in Brussels, Belgium, said that between 2017 and May 2, 2020, armed Fulani herders carried out 654 attacks and killed 2,539 people in Nigeria. The number has now increased by 30% following attacks during the coronavirus pandemic and lockdwn.
This is at the peak of Southern Kaduna Women Protest Over Incessant Killings, Accuse Military Of Bias. Hundreds of Southern Kaduna women on Saturday August 7,2020 in different communities took to major roads to display their displeasure over the incessant killings of their people by Fulani militia.
The protesters, who trooped out in large numbers in Samaru Kataf in Zango Kataf Local Government Area, called on government at different levels to tackle the situation. Speaking on behalf of the protesters, Mrs Dorcas David called on the Kaduna State Government to remove the curfew imposed in the area as a matter of urgency. She said it was as a result of the curfew that the killers were gaining access to their villages to kill them.
She stated that, "The military that was deployed has been baised in protecting lives and properties and has become a tool that is used in killing them. "It is unfortunate that our killers could still beat security check-points, invade our communities and carry out all kinds of heinous acts for hours without any interruption. "We have called the military on several occassions when our communities are under attacks but they only come when the attackers must have finished their operations and left. "We're letting the whole world know that the military sent to guard us have now formed part of the problem we are facing in Southern Kaduna."
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