Killing of over 48 Fulani herders regrettable, condemnable, says National Human Rights Commission

*Urges FG, military to compensate victims

By BASHIR ADEFAKA

The National Human Rights Commission (NHRC) in Nigeria has stood to be counted among those who have condemned killing of over 48 Fulani herdsmen by airstrikes allegedly carried out by military aircraft deployed from Nigeria Air Force (NAF) Base Makurdi on Wednesday January 24, 2023.

It condemned the incident and also urged the Federal Government, and the Nigerian military to ensure justice and compensation to the families of the victims, promising that in line with its mandate, it will monitor the development and seek the protection of the rights of victims as well as payment of compensations for the lives and properties lost as a result of the unfortunate incident.

The National Human Rights Commission seized opportunity of the statement in appealing to the affected communities, particularly in Nasarawa State where the sad event it described as regrettable bombing took place, to remain calm, peaceful and avoid reprisals.

The DEFENDER recalls that the military airstrikes had occurred on the Nasarawa/Benue boundary community of Rukubi that is a Fulani settlement of Fulani people in Doma Local Government Area of Nasarawa State.

The NHRC’s reaction was coming barely 24 after this Nigeria’s fast growing multi-lingual online newspaper published a call on the the military authorities to take urgent steps to avert more serious crisis by coming out to apologise and pay damages to Fulani organisation and families of the over 48 of their beloved ones allegedly killed by an aircraft deployed from its Makurdi unit.

It will be recalled that the herders were said to have been invited by Benue State Livestock Guards under the watch of Governor Samuel Ortom, to collect their over 1,000 cows seized on the excuse of enforcing administration’s anti-open grazing law that makes no provision for only the Fulani herdsmen as part of Nigerians doing businesses in the state.

It will also be recalled that after they were made by the Ortom’s Livestock Guards to cough out N29,500,000 being money required to be paid before the release of the cows, they honoured the invitation and were on ground to collect the cows only for them to be met with the aircraft bombardment that killed them in their scores with seven others seriously injured now receiving treatment in a hospital.

Reacting to the development, the Executive Secretary of the National Human Rights Commission, Mr. Tony Ojukwu, in a statement by the Deputy Director Public Affairs of the Commission, Fatimah Agwai Mohammed, made available to newsmen on Monday, while condemning the sad event also said, “the incident is highly regrettable.”

Ojukwu, who was reacting to media reports on the alleged bombing of civilians, with particular mention of that of herdsmen by the certain persons within the Nigerian Air Force (NAF), demanded “urgent action by the government to compensate the victims and hold erring officers accountable in order to forestall further occurrence.”

He said it is quite unfortunate that the lives of these citizens were cut short in this painful and sad manner, adding that “the loss of the life of one citizen is sad not to talk of 48 citizens.”

“The Commission is seriously worried about the incident as Nigeria cannot afford such costly mistakes that usually take the lives of many innocent civilians because it adds to the number of extra-judicial killings in the country,” Ojukwu added.

“While we urge the federal government, and the Nigerian military to ensure justice and compensation to the families of the victims, the NHRC will in line with its mandate, monitor the development and seek the protection of the rights of victims as well as payment of compensations for the lives and properties lost as a result of the unfortunate incident.

“The NHRC is also using this opportunity to appeal to the affected communities, particularly in Nasarawa state where the regrettable bombing took place, to remain calm and peaceful and not to take the laws into their hands to avoid further escalation of the crisis,” the statement further reads.

In a related development, the Commission has expressed concern over the spate of killings in the Southeast, where rampaging gunmen have been gunning down innocent citizens with reckless abandon.

“We are therefore calling on the various security agencies and well-meaning individuals and groups in the southeast to appeal to all aggrieved persons and armed groups in the southeast to lay down their arms and allow the southeast to return to its former peaceful status and embrace dialogue and forgiveness.”