Bishops urge Buhari to end killings by Fulani herdsmen

The Bishop of Anglican Church, Egba Diocese, Rt. Rev. Emmanuel Oludaisi Adekunle yesterday called on governments at all levels to urgently take conscious steps to curb the incessant attacks of Fulani herdsmen on the country before it becomes a threat to national unity.

Also speaking on the issue yesterday, the Catholic Archbishop of Lagos, His Grace, Alfred Adewale Martins warned that government’s seeming apathy on the issue might soon spark of volatile reprisal attacks that would destabilise the peace and security of the entire country.

Bishop Adekunle, who spoke at the official opening ceremony of the first session of the 2016 Synod of the Church, described the attacks of the herdsmen as “real war and purposed tribal extermination”.

He warned that if the situation was not quickly brought under control, it might be an extension of the Boko Haram insurgency.

He described the havoc wrecked by the herdsmen on Agatu communities in Benue State and some other parts of the country as disheartening and implored the government to prevent future occurrence.

The Bishop said it was a pity that instead of Nigerians living peacefully regardless of their religious inclination or tribal divide, they “are now living under the spell of these people, captivated by the fear of their invasion, carrying lethal and sophisticated weapons around to scare, attack and kill their victims.”

He added: “A conscious step needs to be taken by the Federal Government and that of the states where the Fulanis are becoming threats, especially the middle belt and the southern states to checkmate these miscreants and curb this social malaise.”

Adekunle urged the government to restore the confidence of farmers and other investors in agricultural projects by providing security and safety for their personnel and produce, else the food processing industries in the country might be negatively affected to the detriment of the economy.

In a statement signed by his Director of Social Communications, Monsignor Gabriel Osu, Martins wondered why relevant law enforcement agencies, especially the Police, have allegedly continued to treat the issue with kid gloves.

He condemned the incessant killings of farmers across the middle-belt and the most recent bloody invasion of Ukpabi Nimbo in Uzo-uwani Local Government Area of Enugu State by the herdsmen.

Martins called on President Muhammadu Buhari to find a lasting solution to the lingering crisis and bring the perpetrators of the evil act to book.

He warned that the inability of Federal Government to curtail the excesses of the herdsmen clearly sends the signal that they are above the law.