• Amid killings, CAN urges unity, warns against destabilising acts
• Youth leader flays accusation by Fulani
Following the upsurge in insecurity nationwide, a chieftain of the All Progressives Congress (APC) in Osun State, Olatunbosun Oyintiloye, yesterday, urged President Bola Tinubu and heads of security agencies to ensure the arrest and diligent prosecution of financiers of insecurity to end the scourge.
However, the Christian Association of Nigeria (CAN) called on citizens to avoid actions that could further destabilise the country, particularly in light of the ongoing violence in the Middle Belt region.
Meanwhile, the National President of the Mwaghavul Youth Movement (MYM), Kyesmang Jonathan Yusuf, has condemned the recent accusations by some persons of Fulani extraction.
Tasking security agencies to block access of food supplies and ammunition to bandits, terrorists and kidnappers, to halt their heinous operations, in a statement, described the slaughter of many innocent people in Benue and Plateau states, recently, as inhumane and condemnable.
The lawmaker, who hitherto represented Obokun State Constituency in the House of Assembly, said as long as the bandits still have access to food and ammunition, it would be difficult to crush them.
He, however, said that once the sources of supply of the basic human needs and weapons were cut off by arresting those supplying the criminals, security agencies would be able to curtail the activities of the insurgents. While contending that criminals could not operate without support from certain quarters.
he challenged security agencies to work harder to identify the suppliers of weapons and operational vehicles, hard drugs, among others, to the bandits.
IN a statement issued by its President, Archbishop Daniel Okoh, CAN expressed deep concern over the persistent insecurity affecting communities in states like Plateau, Benue and Gombe. He emphasised the urgent need for unity, dialogue and collective action to address the humanitarian crisis and restore peace.
“We unequivocally reaffirm our steadfast commitment to advocating for the safety, security, and dignity of the affected communities. We will not relent in our pursuit of justice and lasting peace,” Okoh stated.
The statement also highlighted the importance of avoiding inflammatory statements or actions that might escalate tension, warning that such behaviour poses a grave threat to national cohesion.
Okoh urged Nigerians from all backgrounds to support peace-building efforts and participate in inclusive dialogues through both local and international platforms. He specifically acknowledged the Nigerian Inter-Religious Council (NIREC) and international partners like the United States as key to fostering understanding and promoting long-term solutions.
ADDRESSING journalists yesterday at the NUJ Press Secretariat in Jos, Plateau State, Yusuf claimed that MYM would have ignored them but for the need to correct some lies being peddled by the Fulani to serve as the basis for further attack on their people and land in Mangu Local Council of Plateau.
He added, “We know that such lies often precede coordinated attacks on our people, which is why we are here today to inform the general public of their evil intentions against the state.
“Mwaghavul nation has been a victim of coordinated genocide committed by Fulani terrorists against the nation our nation since April 13, 2023. Although this genocide has become widespread in Nigeria, our local situation has been disturbing, given our shared mutual coexistence for decades. Conflict is intrinsic to every society, which is why there are institutional and traditional ways of settling grievances.”
Yusuf posited that the unprovoked attacks on Mwaghavul resulted in the sacking of over 30 villages out of 103 affected communities, the displacement of over 65,000 villagers, the grounding of 6,111 houses and an immense loss of over 600 lives apart from property.
