socio-cultural groups and thus should not be criminalised.
Senior Special Assistant to the President on Media and Publicity,
Garba Shehu, who was a guest on Channels TV’s Sunrise Daily on
Tuesday, urged Nigerians not to politicise the meeting, arguing that
all stakeholders have a role to play in ensuring that the nation
remains safe.
The Police had come under fire recently for holding a meeting with the
herders and urging them to please assist in curbing the insecurity in
the nation.
The President’s aide, however, said, “It is a mistake to say the
Nigerian government is talking to bandits.
“The Miyetti Allah group is like Ohanaeze and Afenifere. It is a
socio-cultural group. There are criminals within the Yoruba race and
you cannot say because of that, Afenifere is a group of criminals.
“The Nigerian government is speaking with the leadership of the Fulani
herders association, Miyetti Allah.”
When asked if it is true that the herders were offered N100m to help
maintain peace, Shehu said, “That is 100 per cent untrue. I have
confirmed that in all the meetings held, money was never discussed.
“All of the issues were about the involvement of the leadership of
Miyetti Allah and getting them to prevail upon its members and they
are many. We asked them to assist the administration to recover
weapons which were owned by a lot of these elements,” Shehu said.
The presidential aide said it did not directly translate to amnesty,
adding that “it is a win-win situation for all because the cattle
breeders also have their issues which they brought to the government;
and the more discussions take place, the more interesting it becomes.”
the President’s aide further stated that state governments would be
involved in the talks.
He said some of the herders admitted that they went into crime because
they had been dispossessed of their cattle by rustlers.
Shehu added, “These things are being addressed and they are moving to
the next stage.
“In states like Kogi, Benue, Kaduna, Zamfara, Katsina, and Niger, they
will be talking to the governors so that you can use them. They are
available so that you can help the government to caution and control
some of these things unfolding.”
In his response, however, Emmanuel Onwubiko, the Head of Human Rights
Writers Association of Nigeria, faulted the approach of the Presidency.
Onwubiko said Miyetti Allah had defended violence in the past and as
such could not be said to be a peaceful organisation like Ohanaeze and
Afenifere.