MASSOB condemns post-election killing of Christians by herdsmen

Movement for the Actualisation of the Sovereign State of Biafra (MASSOB) has condemned the incessant killings in Christian communities in some parts of the country immediately after the general elections.

In a statement yesterday, the group regretted that the killings commenced immediately after the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) had announced President Muhammadu Buhari as the winner of the February 23 presidential election.

MASSOB also congratulated the Igbo for voting for its choice candidates in the general elections.

The statement signed by its leader, Uchenna Madu, in Abakaliki, Ebonyi State, indicted the Federal Government and tribal soldiers called Fulani herdsmen in the killings.

The pro-Biafra group noted that prior to the presidential election, mostly within the campaign period, the terrorism by Fulani herdsmen suddenly reduced.

The statement read in part: “It is very disheartening that overwhelming evidences abound on the incessant, systematic and well coordinated attacks, killings and ethnic cleansing of Christian-dominated villages of Kaduna, Taraba, Benue, Plateau and Ebonyi states recently by Fulani herdsmen after the presidential election.

“Then security agents, in their bid to deceive the international community, will label the attackers gunmen instead of identifying the real culprits.”

In the same vein, the police command in Kaduna State, yesterday, vowed to fish out the attackers of Nandu village in Sanga Council of Kaduna State, and bring them to justice.

The Police Public Relations Officer (PPRO), DSP Yakubu Sabo, told News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) in Kaduna that the command had mobilised operatives to the scene of the incident and taken care of the injured and dead.

Sabo said that a joint patrol team of the police and the army was in the area to forestall possible breakdown of law and order.

He added that the Commissioner of Police (CP), Mr. Ahmad Abdulrahaman, had condemned the killing and commiserated with the families of victims.

According to him, Abdulrahaman has advised residents of the affected community against taking the law into their hands, but allow justice to take its course.

He explained that unknown gunmen entered Nandu village on Saturday, March 16, killed nine persons, injured two others and torched several houses.