A Civil Rights Advocacy group-: HUMAN RIGHTS WRITERS ASSOCIATION OF
NIGERIA (HURIWA) has tasked President Muhammadu Buhari to deal honestly
and openly with the reality of the deliberate genocide and targeted
attacks of Christians and farmers by a combination of armed Fulani
herdsmen and Islamists of Boko haram terrorist genre which have
skyrocketed since five years ago that he assumed Presidential powers.
The Rights organization faulted the DIVERSIONARY tactics of the
Presidency in which for five years it has chased imaginary enemies such
as the unarmed Indigenous peoples of Biafra(IPOB) which it wrongly
branded as a terrorist group but has failed to rein in or declare as
terrorists the backers of the armed Fulani herdsmen such as the MIYETTI
ALLAH CATTLE OWNERS ASSOCIATION which had actively through media
statements backed the incessant attacks of communities in the mainly
Christian dominated areas including the series of attacks in Benue,
Plateau, and Southern Kaduna State.
HURIWA stated that in 2018 around June when a mass killing of at least
86 people who were attending a funeral event in Plateau state took
place, MIYETTI ALLAH OFFICIAL said it was an act of revenge following an
earlier attack, the cattle rearers’ group, Miyetti Allah.
HURIWA recalled that the Police that has serially failed to protect
Christians and farmers from the violence even said 86 people were killed
in several villages while six persons were injured in the attack that
lasted between 1p.m. and 8p.m.
But residents said over 120 people were massacred in separate attacks at
different locations.
HURIWA recalled that the state government imposed a dusk to dawn curfew
in parts of the state, amid growing tensions between locals and migrant
herdsmen community. Residents blame the attacks on Fulani herdsmen, a
group represented by the Miyetti Allah.
But the chairman of the north-central chapter of Miyetti Allah Cattle
Breeders Association of Nigeria (MACBAN), Danladi Ciroma, condemned the
attacks.
Mr. Ciroma however said in a statement quoted by the media that the
attacks were “retaliatory”.
“These attacks are retaliatory. As much as I don’t support the killing
of human beings, the truth must be told that those who carried out the
attacks must be on a revenge mission,” he said.
“Fulani herdsmen have lost about 300 cows in the last few weeks – 94
cows were rustled by armed Berom youths in Fan village, another 36 cows
were killed by Berom youths. In addition to that, 174 cattle were
rustled.”
HURIWA has therefore lamented that each time MIYETTI ALLAH CATTLE OWNERS
ASSOCIATION makes inflammatory and incendiary statements threatening
national security, the Presidency will always go back to its old bag of
tricks to excavate her persistent but unintelligent accusations against
imaginary enemies including IPOB even at the risk of denying the
widespread anti-Christian and anti -farmers violence by Boko haram
terrorists and armed Fulani herdsmen.
HURIWA recalled that the presidency had recently accused the Indigenous
People of Biafra (IPOB) of using false claims to deceive the United
States and the United Kingdom just as the government official said using
the cover of Christianity, the presidency said IPOB is calling for a US
special envoy to be appointed to stop the “genocide” of Christians in
Nigeria.
But in a statement on Sunday, Garba Shehu, spokesman of President
Muhammadu Buhari, said the real purpose of IPOB is to cause disagreement
between the Nigerian government and its US and UK/European allies.
HURIWA however dismissed this soft tissue of propaganda against the
banned IPOB as a diversionary tactic by the current administration to
take the attention of the global community away from the genocide and
killings of Christians and farmers by the Boko haram terrorists and
armed Fulani herdsmen going on all over the Country.
HURIWA asked the Presidency if it was located on the outer planet when
the Islamic terror group of Boko Haram rejected N50m ransom and killed
the Christian Association of Nigerian chairman which was published
extensively on 22 January 2020 by Guardian as well as all the other
newspapers including the pro-regime Daily Trust newspaper.
It was reported that outrage trailed the murder of the Chairman of the
Christian Association of Nigeria (CAN) in Michika Local Government Area
of Adamawa State, Rev. Lawan Andimi after Boko Haram insurgents who
kidnapped him rejected a N50 million ransom.
The state CAN chairman, Bishop Dami Mamza, who broke the sad news to
some journalists in Yola, said that the insurgents had demanded two
million euros (about N50 million) and still went ahead to kill the
innocent cleric.
HURIWA also recalled that a report has it that armed Fulani herdsmen
killed six in Kaduna village which was Published on August 16, 2016, by
Punch Newspaper and other newspapers which reported that Suspected
Fulani herdsmen that week killed six farmers at Godogodo in the Jema’a
Local Government Area of Kaduna State.
It was gathered that the herdsmen told the villagers that their villages
had become cattle grazing reserves and demanded that they vacate
immediately.
But the chairman of the Kaduna State chapter of Miyetti Allah, Dr.
Haruna Usman, said the Fulani herdsmen were on a revenge mission, noting
that his men were not “crazy like that” to just kill anybody.
Another 40 Christians were killed as suspected Fulani herdsmen raid
Christian community in Nigeria
Published October 20, 2016, By World Watch Monitor which stated that
gunmen believed to be Fulani herdsmen have killed more than 40 people in
Godogodo village, a Christian settlement in the Jama’a Local Government
Area in Nigeria’s northern state of Kaduna. The area, in the south of
Kaduna State, has been attacked several times before.
The gunmen were said to have attacked a military checkpoint in the area
before invading the village.
One survivor, Peter Atangi, told World Watch Monitor.
HURIWA recalled that the Fulani Herdsmen reportedly Killed 13
Christians, Wounded Three in Central Nigeria as
Published on January 10, 2020, by international Christian response just
as the publication stated that armed Muslim Fulani herdsmen killed 13
Christians in Plateau State, Nigeria on Wednesday (Jan. 8), the same day
four students were kidnapped from a Catholic seminary in Kaduna state.
About 20 herdsmen attacked the predominantly Christian village of
Kulben, in Plateau state’s Mangu County, at about 8 p.m., area residents
told Morning Star News. The 13 dead were all members of the Church of
Christ in Nations (COCIN), as were three people wounded in the assault,
they said.
HURIWA listed other attacks amongst dozens of others as follows:
Suspected herdsmen kill 10 in Benue
Published March 21, 2019, By Punch
Suspected herdsmen and reported in detail that on herdsmen killed 10
people in Tser Uoreleegeb in Ubabai council ward of Guma Local
Government Area of Benue State. According to some people in the
community, the gunmen shot indiscriminately after invading the village.
Suspected herdsmen killed two Catholic priests, 17 others as
Published on 25 April 2018 by Guardian and many others which reported
that suspected herdsmen yesterday attacked Ayar Mbalom community in
Gwer-East Local Government Area of Benue State, killing 19 persons,
including two priests of the Catholic Diocese of Makurdi.
HURIWA said that again, herdsmen killed 39, a sack and raze three
communities in Benue as Published APRIL 25, 2018 by Vanguard which
disclosed that less than 48 hours after two Catholic Priests and 17
worshipers were killed by suspected herdsmen at Mbalon in Gwer East
Local government area of Benue state, the marauders late Tuesday night
and early Wednesday launched a coordinated attack on three communities
in Guma local government area, killing no fewer than 39 persons,
injuring scores and razing over 160 houses, huts, and farmlands in the
communities.
Among the communities and villages affected in the attack were
Tse-Umenge, Mbadwen council ward, Mbakpase, Saghev council ward, and
Tse-Ali, Mbawa council ward.
HURIWA recalled that the herdsmen again Killed 11 in Southern Kaduna
Published ON APRIL 1, 2020 BY VANGUARD and reported that despite the
curfew imposed on Kaduna state, the Southern Kaduna People’s Union,
SOKAPU, said gunmen had killed 11 people in 3 villages across the
southern part of the state.
This was contained in a statement by the Public Relations Officer,
Southern Kaduna Peoples Union (SOKAPU),
Mr. Luka Binniyat.
He said the attacks took place in Guruku ward, Kuduru village both in
Chikun Local Government Area and Jagindi, in Jema’a Local LGA. There was
Fresh attack in Jema’a, Kaduna reportedly claims 14 lives
PUBLISHED BY DAILY POST 17TH DEC 2018 and said 14 persons have been
reported killed while 17 others were injured during an attack by gunmen
Sunday night at Ungwan Paa-Gwandara village in Godogodo Chiefdom of
Jema’a local government area of Kaduna State.
Mr Joshua Paul, a resident of the community told DAILYPOST that the
gunmen unleashed the mayhem around 8pm when unidentified gunmen opened
fire on innocent persons who were attending a wedding ceremony.
HURIWA quoted Arewa pastors as saying 30 Christians were killed in Jos
attacks
Published May 28, 2019 By Punch and affirmed that a group, Arewa
Christians and Indigenous Pastors Association, said about 30 Christians
were killed and over 20 houses were burnt or destroyed by Muslim
militia, some in military uniforms from around Tina junction, Cele
bridge, Dutse Uku, and Nasarawa areas, all bordering Muslim communities
in Jos North.”
HURIWA summed up a few other cases as follows: “Suspected Fulani
Herdsmen Invade Southern Kaduna Community, Hack Women, Children To Death
as
Published JUN 03, 2020 BY SAHARA REPORTERS and said suspected Fulani
herdsmen have invaded Tudun Doka community under Kajuru Local Government
Area of Kaduna State, killing dozens of persons in the process,
SaharaReporters can confirm.
Nine persons, mostly women, and children were hacked to death with
machetes by the attackers. Over 30 Dead Bodies Decomposing In Bush After
Kajuru Attacks, Southern Kaduna Residents Say
Published MAY 31, 2020 BY SAHARA REPORTERS and quoted that the President
of Southern Kaduna Peoples Union, Jonathan Asake, has said that over 30
dead bodies of victims of the attacks by armed bandits in Kajuru under
Southern Kaduna were decomposing in the bush.
He said security agents had not gone to the affected communities to
retrieve the bodies, adding that over 60 people were still missing after
the attacks. Two beheaded in a fresh attack on Agatu by armed herdsmen
PUBLISHED ON APRIL 13, 2020 BY VANGUARD and stated that Suspected armed
herdsmen on Monday morning reportedly besieged Ologba community and
beheaded two young men in a fresh attack on Agatu Local Government Area
of Benue State.
The attackers were also reported to have taken away the heads of their
victims to an unknown destination.
Scores killed as suspected herdsmen attack Agatu, Benue State
Published by daily post on 1st July 2019 and said no fewer than 20
people were in the early hours of Sunday killed by suspected herdsmen in
Okokolo village, Agatu LGA of Benue State.
The attackers, DAILY POST gathered, also burnt down several houses and
valuables.
It was also gathered that corpses of some persons were yet to be found.
Herdsmen strike again in Benue, killed 20 in Agatu attack on Feb 21,
2019 | The Nigerian Voice and goes thus:”Barely three days to the
rescheduled general elections by the Independent National Electoral
Commission (INEC), armed herdsmen suspected to be from Fulani extraction
in the early hours of on Wednesday made an incursion into the Ebete Usha
ward in Agatu local government area of Benue state leaving 17 local
farmers and three Jukun hunters. Published by The Guardian 29 April 2016
/6:57 am it was reported that Fulani herdsmen attacked Ninji and Ropp
villages in Plateau State and killed 27 persons. Also, the same group
reportedly murdered about 70 Christians.
July 16, 2015: Fulani Herdsmen attack and killed farmers in Plateau.
September 2015: an attack by some Fulani herdsmen on the community of
Onitsha Ukwuani in Ndokwa West local government area of Delta State left
about three persons dead. A middle-aged woman was raped and subsequently
killed by three Fulani herdsmen in Edo state.
October 2, 2015: Fulani Herdsmen raped, killed Ogun Residents and
Farmers.
November 2015: Herdsmen invaded Ulaja and Ojeh communities in Dekina
Local Government Area of Kogi State and killed about 22 men and women.
December 1, 2015: Fulani Herdsmen kill a man in Ofagbe community, Isoko
North council area of Delta.
February 2016: Fulani herdsmen reportedly killed About 10 persons in
Tom-Anyiin, Tom-Ataan, Mbaya and Tombu in the Buruku Local Government
Area of the state.
February 8, 2016: 10 killed, Over 300 displaced in clash between
herdsmen and farmers at Tom-Anyiin, Tom-Ataan in Buruku LGA.
February 11, 2016: Herdsmen attacked Abbi community in Uzo-Uwani LGA,
Enugu killing two siblings and burnt houses, motorcycles.
February 29, 2016: Over 500 locals killed and 7000 displaced in an
attack in Agatu LGA by fulani herdsmen.
March 9, 2016: 8 residents killed during herdsmen attacks in Ngorukgan,
Tse Chia, Deghkia and Nhumbe, Logo LGA.
April 12, 2016: Fulani herdsmen attack Dori and Mesuma villages in
Taraba, killing at least 15.
April 19, 2016: A member of about 18 suspected Herdsmen that invaded
farms in Lagun village, Lagelu local council Oyo state, shot Mr. Jimmy
Aido.
April 25, 2016: 48 killed, 60 injured by Fulani herdsmen in Ukpabi Nimbo
community, Enugu state.
Twenty-one killed as fresh crisis erupts in Southern Kaduna Published by
Guardian 21 February 2017
Afresh crisis has erupted in Southern Kaduna, despite the presence of
security agents as armed Fulani herdsmen launched attacks on four
communities killing no less than 21 people.
Many houses have also been reportedly set ablaze in the incident, which
began on Sunday and lasted till yesterday afternoon.
Pastor, 50 others die in fresh Adamawa attack Published By PUNCH
September 15, 2018
Over fifty persons including a pastor belonging to the Lutheran Church
of Christ in Nigeria were on Thursday night killed in attacks carried
out by suspected Fulani herdsmen.
The attackers, who targeted the villages of Gon , Nzumosu , Bolki,
Nyanga , Bukuto in the Numan Local Government Areas of the state,
reportedly numbered over 200 .
12 feared killed in attacks on Benue, Kaduna communities Published by
The Guardian 06 April 2018
No fewer than 10 persons have been feared killed and scores injured when
suspected herdsmen on Wednesday night attacked some communities in
Gwer-West Local Council of Benue State.
According to sources, the assailants invaded Mbapa, Mbapupuu, Mbachohon,
and Enger settlements in Agagbe District of the council area in a
gorilla warfare fashion at about 11p.m., killing farmers and residents
in their sleep.
Gunmen attack Kaduna village, kill 14, injure 21 Published By PUNCH
December 18, 2018, and reported that gunmen suspected to be Fulani
herdsmen on Sunday night attacked Ungwan Pah ll Gwandara in the Jema ‘a
Local Government Area of Kaduna State, killing 14 persons.
During the attack, 21 persons reportedly sustained varying degrees of
injury from gunshots and machete cuts.
HURIWA recalled that the other armed gangs of Christian hating Herdsmen
attacked 11 Plateau villages, killed 86, torch 50 houses Published By
PUNCH June 25, 2018, and detailed that Plateau State was thrown into
mourning with the killing of 86 persons in the attacks on about 11
communities in the Gashish District by suspected Fulani herdsmen.
The Police Command in Plateau State had earlier confirmed the attacks,
saying it had only recovered 11 corpses from some of the villages. But
residents had insisted that about 200 people were killed by the
marauding herdsmen. Then a Pastor, 10-year-old, two others killed in
Plateau raid
Published April 9, 2020 by Punch and reported that a
thirty-four-year-old pastor, Mathew Tagwai, has been killed by gunmen in
the Bassa Local Government Area of Plateau State.
7 Killed in Nigeria Jihadist Attack on Christmas Eve reported by Voice
of America December 25, 2019 which reported that boko Haram jihadists
have killed seven people on Christmas Eve in a raid on a Christian
village near the town of Chibok in northeast Nigeria’s Borno state,
local militia and residents told AFP Wednesday. Islamic State militants
beheaded 11 Christians in Nigeria on Christmas Day Published 27 DEC 2019
by Vatican News which detailed that Jihadists of the so-called Islamic
State release a video purportedly showing the murder of 11 Christians in
Nigeria’s Borno State on Christmas Day.Boko Haram attacked another Borno
village; burns school, church
December 30, 2019 By Premium Times
Mandaragirau, a village in Biu Local Government Area of Borno State, was
attacked Sunday night by suspected Boko Haram insurgents.
The attackers also burnt down the community’s church and a school. They
also abducted a man on their way out.
killed in latest Plateau massacre
September 7, 2018 By World Watch Monitor Nigeria On 28 August,
communities including a mining site at Wereh village (Ropp District),
Abonong, Ziyat and Bek villages (Foron District), Nafan, Sagas, Rawuru,
and Rambuh villages (Fan District), all in Barkin Ladi, came under heavy
attack by Fulani militants.
Victims included a pastor and four members of his family. Rev. Adamu
Wurim Gyang, 50, and his three children were set ablaze and burnt beyond
recognition. His wife, Jummai, 45, was shot and left to die in a pool of
blood. More than 14 were killed in that attack; 95 houses were burned
down and 225 farm crops awaiting harvest were destroyed. A youth at the
mining site also died.
Boko Haram kept one Dapchi girl who refused to deny her Christianity
Published Sat 24 March 2018 by The Guardian and indicated that the
Schoolgirl Leah Sharibu would not renounce her faith despite friends
begging her to pretend to accept Islam
The only Christian girl among the Dapchi schoolgirls kidnapped by Boko
Haram last month could have been freed along with her schoolmates but
refused to renounce her faith, according to her mother.
On October 2, Morning Star News reported, “Armed Fulani herdsmen
accompanied by militants in Nigerian army uniforms killed 17 Christians
in their homes in the heart of Jos, north-central Nigeria, on Thursday
(September 27), including four children, area sources said.”
20+ Nigerian Christians drown in river attempting to escape Fulani
attackers
September 21, 2018 By World Watch Monitor
A pastor was one of at least 27 people who lost their lives following
fresh attacks carried out by Fulani militants on five predominantly
Christian communities in northeast Nigeria in recent days. Many of them
drowned as they attempted to escape via the local river.
Various sources contacted by World Watch Monitor confirmed that the
attacks took place between 13 to 16 September, and affected the villages
of Gon, Bolki, Ndumusu, Yotti and Yanga, in Numan local government area
(LGA), Adamawa
HURIWA is, therefore, challenging the current administration to tell the
World how many of the killers have been arrested and prosecuted and
punished for these heinous crimes against humanity.