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Tag: Miyetti Allah

  • Osinbajo panel to meet Miyetti Allah

    Osinbajo panel to meet Miyetti Allah

    The Vice President Yemi Osinbajo panel on the farmers/herdsmen clashes raised a committee yesterday to address some specific aspects of the task of ending killings in the country.

    Zamfara State Governor Abdulaziz Yari, who broke the news, said the sub-committee headed by Ebonyi State Governor Dave Umahi, will interface with the Miyetti Allah and the other stakeholders in the herders/farmers crises.

    He said some of those involved in the clashes had taken it as a money-making venture, adding that criminals also hide under them  to perpetrate evil.

    He said: “There is progress. This committee is a NEC committee established by the Vice President so that this issue of herdsmen/farmers clashes will be put to rest.

    “Though it is a long-standing problem since 2007, in some states, particularly in my own state, we have been battling with it. Now the states and Federal Government under the leadership of the Vice President have agreed to have a small committee at NEC so that the situation will not get out of hand, so that it won’t be looked at as an ethnic crisis or religious crisis.

    “So, in our discussion today, we set up a committee headed by the Governor of Ebonyi State. Plateau and Adamawa governors are members. Other people will be brought to join the committee from hotspot states – Benue, Taraba, Adamawa and Zamfara, where there is crises so that they can interface with the Miyetti Allah and other groups to see how we can reduce this to the barest minimum.

    “As government, we have to take all the measures despite the fact that the Army, Police, and all the security agents  are on the field at the respective places, still we have to form this committee to interface with those actors so that this matter can be reduced to the barest minimum and possibly be wiped off.” he said

    No fewer than six people have been killed and many others injured in another night attack on Kaguru village in Birnin Gwari Local Government Area of Kaduna State.

    The police have moved men and officers to the area to fish out the perpetrators. The State Emergency Management Agency (SEMA) is providing relief materials for distressed people and taking the inventory.

    An indigene of the area, Abdullahi Usman, said the gunmen suspected to be herdsmen attacked the village on Wednesday night.

    Usman, who said, the villagers were caught unawares, added that “after the gunmen sacked the village, they continued shooting sporadically and they went round to release all the cows from house to house and led them into the bush unchallenged.

    “They also set many houses ablaze after that. Nobody knows the exact number, but the cows are in their hundreds, they took all of them and left with them after killing six innocent souls.” Kaduna police spokesman ASP Mukhtar Aliyu said the gunmen invaded the community while the villagers were asleep. He confirmed that six people were killed. “The hoodlums invaded the community when the residents went to bed after which they started shooting indiscriminately and burning down houses before the arrival of security operatives.

    “More troops have been deployed in the affected region, while those that sustained injuries were taken to Birnin Gwari General Hospital for medical attention,” he said.

    A source in Birnin Gwari told our correspondent that, heavy movement of security personnel was witnessed in the area yesterday morning.

    In a statement, the Kaduna State Government said, “The government has condoled with the Kaguru community in Birnin Gwari Local Government Area of the state, following the killings by unknown gunmen of some residents of the community.”

    The statement signed by the Senior Special Assistant to the Governor on Media and Publicity, Samuel Aruwan, said: “The Kaduna State Government wishes to extend its condolences to the entire Kaguru community. It urges vigilance and prompt reporting to appropriate authorities of suspicious movements and actions.”

  • Miyetti Allah begs Imo monarchs, farmers

    Miyetti Allah begs Imo monarchs, farmers

    The Chairman of Miyetti Allah, Alhaji Audu Diko, has apologized to monarchs and farmer in Imo State following the incursion of herdsmen into farmlands and subsequent destruction of crops.

    He described the culprits as “unknown herdsmen”.

    Diko, who made the appeal during a meeting with the leadership of Hausa/Fulani herders, Imo community farmers, and traditional rulers, said the Imo people are peace loving and do not deserve any form of assault.

    The meeting was organised by the Commissioner of Police, Chris Ezike.

    According to Diko, all acts of violence perpetrated by herdsmen in the state are carried out by unregistered and unidentified herders.

    The monarchs were worried at the destruction of their farmlands by the herdsmen, saying the people may suffer famine if not checked.

    The monarch of Ubomiri in Mbaitoli Council Area, Eze George Eke, called for the establishment of ranches, saying “it saves lives and properties”.

    “The world is going into ranching, it saves herders from walking long distanced and the farmers from loss of farmlands. It comes with peace of mind and the cattle eat better”.

    Eze Andrew Ezenwo of Awara community in Ohaji/Egbema council lamented that herdsmen continue to unleashed mayhem on his people.

    Ezike assured the parties that the meeting will be more regular as demanded by participants.

    He also promised that the committee on herdsmen/farmers crisis in the 27 councils will be strengthened to check any form of crisis.

  • Herdsmen: Miyetti Allah begs Imo monarchs, farmers

    Herdsmen: Miyetti Allah begs Imo monarchs, farmers

    Following the recent incursion into farmlands by herdsmen in Imo state, the state Chairman of Miyetti Allah, the umbrella body of the herders, Alhaji Audu Diko, on Monday apologized to monarchs and farmers over the destruction of farmlands by those he described as “unknown herdsmen”.

    Alhaji Diko who made the appeal during a meeting with the leadership of Hausa/Fulani herders, Imo community farmers, and traditional rulers organized by the State Commissioner of Police, Chris Ezike at the Command’s Headquarters in Owerri, the Imo State capital, said that Imo people are peace loving and do not deserve any form of assault.

    He disclosed that all acts of violence perpetrated by herdsmen in the state are carried out by unregistered and unidentified herders.

    Meanwhile the monarchs expressed concerns over the destruction of their farmlands by the herdsmen, adding that the people may suffer famine if not checked.

    The traditional ruler of Ubomiri in Mbaitoli Council Area, Eze George Eke, called for the establishment if ranches adding that “it saves lives and properties”.

    According to the monarch, “the world is going into ranching, it saves herders from walking long distance; and the farmers from loss of farmlands. It comes with peace of mind and the cattle eat better”.

    Eze Andrew Ezenwo of Awara community in Ohaji/Egbema Local Government Area, said that the herdsmen have unrelentlessly unleashed mayhem on his people.

    Speaking, the State Commissioner of Police, Chris Ezike assured that the meeting will be more regular as demanded by the participants.

    He also promised that the Committee on herdsmen and farmers in the 27 Council Areas of the state will be strengthened to check any form of crisis.

  • Killer herdsmen: No protest will stop Osinbajo’s panel — Presidency

    Killer herdsmen: No protest will stop Osinbajo’s panel — Presidency

    The Presidency yesterday said that the reported protest against some members of the Vice President Yemi Osinbajo’s committee on herdsmen/farmers clashes will not stop the committee from performing its assignment.

    The Miyetti Allah Cattle Breeders Association was reported to have rejected the Osinbajo panel because of the inclusion of the Benue State Governor Samuel Ortom and Taraba State Governor Darius Ishaku on the panel.

    The two state governors are strong supporters of the anti-grazing laws in their states.

    Their communities have been attacked by killer herdsmen, resulting in the death of some Nigerians with injuries to many, while others were displaced from their communities.

    The Osinbajo committee was set up by the last meeting of the National Economic Council towards finding a solution to the killings in the affected communities.

    Speaking with The Nation, the Vice President’s Senior Special Assistant on Media and publicity, Laolu Akande, said the committee was set up in the interest of all Nigerians, especially the affected communities and parties in the crises.

    Stressing that the interest of the administration is to ensure peace and security, he said the Osinbajo panel would leave no stone unturned to ensure peace and security of life and property in the affected communities.

    He said: “Our job is to all Nigerians, and in this case, all the affected parties and communities. The interest of the administration is peace and the first duty of government is to provide peace and security of life and property.

    “So we note the views of all and welcome their right to their own positions. Government will also do its job to secure the wellbeing of all Nigerians, including those who have expressed their opinions.

    “The Working Group has met once already and would continue to meet to ensure that all Nigerians live in peace and security.

    “The Group is made up of elected governors including those whose communities are affected.

    “And we should not forget that all those serving in states as governors and the Federal Government have sworn to protect the constitution.

    “That is the guarantee by law that their actions would be fair and without fear or favour.

    “This crisis and the misunderstanding that attends it would be over under the Buhari administration by the special Grace of God.” he stated.

  • Cattle colonies not practicable in South-East –Miyetti Allah

    THE Miyetti Allah Cattle Breeders Association of Nigeria (MACBAN) said yesterday there was no need to set up cattle colonies in the Southeast geopolitical zone. The Chairman of MACBAN in Anambra State, Alhaji Sadiq Gidado,told reporters in Awka,the state capital that the establishment of cattle colonies in the area was not necessary because of the harmonious relationship existing between members of the association and the residents.

    He, however, underscored the need to strengthen the mutual understanding and synergy between MACBAN and the people in the zone. Gidado bemoaned the incessant farmer-herdsman clashes in some parts of the country, saying that the two parties were coexisting peacefully in the South East zone. He said:“Cattle breeding in Anambra is different from what obtains in other states; here in Anambra; we are working in synergy with the security operatives, the indigenes and the state government through the Cattle Menace Control Committee.

    “To me, anti-open grazing bill, cattle colonies and ranches are just political creations; these concepts are created by politicians to bring disharmony between farmers and herdsmen. “In the Southeast, the proposed cattle colonies cannot work; you cannot just take somebody’s land and give to another person to conduct his own business; it is not right. “Here in the zone, it is virtually impossible to operate cattle colonies, as there is harmonious relationship existing between the herdsmen and the farmers.

    “The cattle colonies they are talking about are already existing in the North.” Gidado, who is a member of the Cattle Menace Control Committee, commended the governors of the Southeast states for being proactive by setting up the committee which had ensured peace. He blamed some frictions recorded in the region on migrant cattle breeders, who were not members of MACBAN in the zone, saying that the association had put in place some measures to forestall future incidents. “We thank the governors of the South-East states, especially the Anambra and Enugu state governors, who constituted these committees that are coordinating our activities. “The regulation is that you only graze where there are no farms. If you destroy farmlands intentionally or unintentionally, you must be punished for what you have done and be made to pay for what you have destroyed.

  • Anti-open grazing law will enable herdsmen’s children acquire education – Bishop

    Anti-open grazing law will enable herdsmen’s children acquire education – Bishop

    Bishop William Aveya of Gboko Catholic Diocese in Benue has said that the anti-open grazing law passed by the state government would enable children of herdsmen to acquire education.

    “Open grazing makes it impossible for the children of herdsmen to acquire education because they remain in the bush chasing cows.

    “If the herdsmen embrace ranches, the children will be less busy with the cattle and have more time for education which is very crucial to a better future,” Avenya told the news men, in Gboko on Monday.

    The herdsmen, under the aegis of the Miyetti Allah Cattle Breeders Association of Nigeria (MACBAN), have remained opposed to the law and have vowed to resist it.

    But Avenya said that the law would promote and protect the rights of herdsmen’s children usually denied their rights and privileges.

    “Nigeria is a signatory to many Child Right charters and conventions that seek to protect and enhance children’s welfare.

    “While other children enjoy such rights and privileges, herdsmen’s children are left behind because they are holed up in the hinterland running after cows and getting exposed to the vagaries of the environment.

    Read Also: ‘Lalong not opposed to anti- grazing law’

    “It is certainly not fair to leave the herdsmen’s children uneducated because that will denies them the privilege of exploring opportunities in life,” he said.

    He argued that cattle ranching was the best option that could provide some comfort for cattle, herders and their children, adding that cattle feeding would be improved at the ranches.

    Avenya appealed to herdsmen to accept the law as a panacea to frequent farmers/herders clashes and explore its immense benefits.

    He challenged Nigerians resident in the North-East to evolve ways of reclaiming the desert wastelands, and suggested the growing of grasses to help tackle desertification and provide pasture for cattle.

    Avenya, however, condemned the killing of innocent people by gunmen, and called on the Federal Government to encourage ranching as a way out of the frequent skirmishes.

    The Bishop said that the Church would not encourage reprisal attacks saying, saying that such action had no place in the Christian faith.

    “Instead of carrying arms in self defense, we must encourage each other to pray for the attackers so that God will arrest their spirit and purge them of such wickedness,” he said.

    NAN

  • ‘Politicians have hijacked cattle herdsmen/farmers crisis’ – Miyetti Allah National President

    ‘Politicians have hijacked cattle herdsmen/farmers crisis’ – Miyetti Allah National President

    The National president of Miyetti Allah , Kautal Hore, a Fulani socio-cultural Association, Alhaji Bello Abdullahi Badejo, yesterday in Kano, raised the alarm that the cattle herdsmen/farmers  crisis, ravaging some parts of the country have been hijacked by politicians, who want to take the advantage to prosecute the 2019 campaign agenda.

    Badejo, who spoke to reporters in Kano, said the worrisome trend, over the rampant killings has now taken a frightening dimension in which the politicians are cashing in on to create a division in the minds of the people by branding the Fulani herdsmen as ‘killers’.

    According to him: ”politicians are interfering in the Fulani herdsmen/ farmers crisis. They are trying to create a division, as well as divide the minds of the people. Politicians are punishing farmers, including Fulani cattle herdsmen because they want to use the face-off as a basis for 2019 politics.”

    The Miyetti Allah national president, argued that fulani are peace loving people, who have a unique identity, different from other races, so for people to now label Fulani, of carrying AK 47 Assault rifles to kill is totally false, insisting that fulani worldwide are only engaged in cattle rearing and nothing else.

    ”They plan to create 5,000 hectares of land to be used as cattle colonies in some states. It is a welcome idea, but if the Benue State Governor, Samuel Ortom had agreed to create the proposed cattle colonies, rather than the grazing law he enacted, it would have not degenerated the current controversy but address the face-off.

    ”But this Ortom’s law is by no means favourable to the Fulani, that is why are vehemently opposed to it. So, the proposed colony will serve as an enduring solution to the lingering Fulani herdsmen/farmers crisis. And as such, we are in support of the Federal Government’s agenda to create the colonies.”

    The Miyetti Allah boss therefore called on the Inspector General of Police, Ibrahim Idris to seize the opportunity of his relocation to Benue State to establish the truth, as to who is attacking who and at the close of the day, prosecute, whoever is found guilty,  insisting that the fulani have been and are still peace-loving people.

    However, he dismissed as false, insinuations that the Federal Government is grabbing the land to hand it over to the Fulani, saying: ”Only desperate politicians are opposed to the creation of cattle colonies for fulani herdsmen. These issues have been politicized.”

    In addition, he stated that anyone armed with AK 47 Assault rifle cannot be rearing cows, adding that such a person must be an armed robber from somewhere, disguising as a Fulani Herdsman and carrying weapons, as well as wearing Fulani attire to deceive the public.

    To this end, he said he is surprised about the rampant attacks occurring between farmers, communities and Fulani cattle herdsmen in Plateau and adjoining states, adding that if any fulani man invades somebody’s farm and steal, let the Fulani man be arrested and called to order rather than not only politicizing it but blowing it out of proportion.

  • Miyetti Allah asks for justice, compensation

    Miyetti Allah asks for justice, compensation

    Cattle breeders are proposing measures  to tackle the herdsmen-farmers clashes in which many have died.

    Their umbrella organisation,  the Miyetti Allah Cattle Breeders Association of Nigeria (MACBAN),  is demanding:

    • compensation for its members;
    • immediate disarmament of militants; and
    • justice for those who died in clashes.

    Benue and Taraba states accused Fulani herdsmen of being behind the killings in their states.

    Seventy-three people were killed in the New Year’s Day attacks in Logo and Guma local government areas of Benue State. They were given mass burial last Thursday.

    In neighbouring Taraba State, 55 people were killed in Lau Local Government. About 233 bodies were buried last week.

    Benue State Governor Samuel Ortom has accused the Miyetti Allah leadership of masterminding the killings. He called for their arrest and prosecution.

    But, at a news conference in Abuja yesterday, MACBAN National Secretary Baba Usman told reporters that the pastoralists had been neglected and suffered various attacks, including the one in which he claimed 732 died in Mambilla Jos.

    In Numan, he said,  82 women and children were killed.

    He said the anti-open grazing law was not initiated to provide a lasting solution to the herdsmen/farmers conflict and blamed the crisis on “draconian laws” put in place by some state governments to deliberately chase away herdsmen.

    He said the Ekiti State anti-grazing-law had human face and represented interest of the pastoralists, adding that members of the association were well represented while setting up the state anti-open grazing law.

    He said the herdsmen had always been at the receiving end of condemnations while engaging in their legal occupation of pastoralism.

    Usman, who noted that the association battled with “misguided and criminally motivated elements”, said:

    “The current situation in our opinion is fuelled by the draconian laws put in place by some state governments with singular aim of chasing our people out of the states simply for ethnic hatred.

    “The anti-open grazing law which started in Ekiti State before it was replicated in Benue, Taraba and other states, is nothing more than  a symbol of intolerance and do not in any way intend to solve the farmers/herders conflict as the livestock breeders interest is neither captured in the law nor in its implementation mechanism.

    “While, as a body, we are not against any law that can engender peace, create societal harmony and stability, we cannot oblige any self-centered regulation with primordial sentiments based on injustice, intolerance and infringement of people’s rights.

    “It is no longer hidden that to achieve these, some state governments are sponsoring ethnic militia against our people, recruiting and arming  locals to kill our people and rustle their livestock as seen recently in Benue and Taraba,” he said.

    “We confirm the position of his royal highness, the Emir of Kano, Sanusi Lamido Sanusi, that in spite of the fact that 732 of our people were killed in Mambilla and 82 women and children killed in Numan, nobody was arrested. We demand the arrest and prosecution of the perpetrators of these heinous crimes without further delay.

    “We further state that the refutal of the Emir’s position by the Taraba State Governor is merely a continuation of his desperate act of hiding the state government’s involvement and protection of the perpetrators of these acts.

    “Pay compensation to the victims of all crises to reduce their level of suffering.”

    There should be, “immediate disarmament of all illegally armed militias across the country in the interest of peace, security and stability.

    “We condemn in totality any attempt of branding herdsmen as terrorists as is being clamoured for in certain quarters. We view this as the continuation of the hate agenda on our people and a very dangerous trend for the country.”

    He said that no fewer than 1,000 of its members, including women and children, have been killed and 20,000 cattle rustled between June 2017 and January 2018 during crises in various states.

    The National Secretary called for a Federal Judicial Commission of Inquiry to access the killings in order to unravel the truth and offenders.

    “We call on the government to pay compensation to victims of all crises to reduce their level of suffering.

    “If the government accepts that, it is left for them to establish a committee that will go and access the level of damage.

    “We have a document of members that were affected by the pastoralists in the North-East but what we discovered is that none of them were captured in the Internally Displaced Persons (IDPs) programme because they are not sedentary.”

  • MIYETTI ALLAH Killers or breeders?

    MIYETTI ALLAH Killers or breeders?

    Following the confusion over the real identity of the killer herdsmen ravaging villages and farmlands, Associate Editor, Sam Egburonu, takes a look at the Miyetti Allah Cattle Breeders Association, a group recently accused of complicity in the Benue killings and herdsmen’s menace across Nigeria 

    Since reports of herdsmen’s brutal killings of unarmed farmers and villagers assumed regular feature in the country, concerned Nigerians have wondered how stick-carrying Fulani herdsmen they knew over the years suddenly transformed to AK 47 totting killers and midnight throat cutters.

    Coming at a time the Benue State Government and some other citizens in the state were already pointing accusing fingers at the group, whose leaders openly condemned the Anti-Open Grazing Law, passed by the state and threatened to make the state ungovernable until the law is amended, there has been calls to the government and the security agencies to investigate and establish whether the Miyetti Allah Cattle Breeders Association is the actual sponsor of the on-going bloodbath in Benue State and other parts of the country.

    The allegation notwithstanding, the leaders of the association, both in the affected states and at the national level have not shied away from repeating their insistence that the violence will not stop until the anti-open grazing law is discarded. Just before the latest massacre of innocent citizens in the state, in which 73people were killed, the Secretary-General of the association, Usman Ngelzerma, blamed the killings on the anti-open grazing law in Benue State.

    Ngelzerma, who accused a faction of his association, the Miyetti Allah Kautal Hore, for issuing threats before the latest attacks in Benue State said, “I like the Benue State governor. He is a peace-loving person but is working on wrong advice. The approach he took is wrong. You cannot change the way of life of a people like the way you turn off a light switch. We don’t wish for the crisis to continue but let us give it (the law) another look. We don’t like the killings; we will never condone the killing of people. Give the farmers their rights but consider the pastoralists too.”

    Just a day after the mass burial of the 73 victims of the recent herdsmen attacks, the National Vice President of the association, Husaini Yusuf Bosso, reportedly warned that more blood will be shed in the state if the anti-grazing law introduced by Governor Samuel Ortom is not completely scrapped.  “We, the association wrote a letter to him, even met him. We told him that this law cannot work. We told them that there is an international cattle route from Niger to Eastern Nigeria.

    “He said he will not allow cattle to pass through Benue state even if it is the cattle route. We told him that if he wants to implement that law, he must provide a land for us to rent. He did not provide any land for cattle herders.  They have been in that state even before colonial days and co-existing peacefully. We advised him and he refused to listen to us. We are not against that law but he has to provide a land for these people before implementing such a law. If there is no land, there is a problem.”

    Also reacting to a question in a recent interview on why the breeders are opposed to ranching when President Muhammadu Buhari had done so, Ibrahim Galma, the Assistant Secretary of Miyetti Allah Cattle Breeders Association of Nigeria, MACBAN, Benue State chapter said pointedly, “Buhari can ranch, I keep saying that ranching is good, but it is quite expensive to ranch our local breed.

    I will give you an example, to ranch 30 of the local Fulani cattle you will require about N30 million a year to feed them. That is how expensive it is to ranch our breed. However, I must say emphatically that ranching is good but very expensive to go into. Ranching is good but it should be a long time goal. It can be achieved but it has to be planned overtime. It is not what you can attain within a short time.”

    Who are the members of MACBAN?

    From reports, it seems obvious that Miyatti Allah Cattle Breeders Association is a well-recognized and registered organization. Referred by some as the umbrella body of all Fulani herders, the association has chapters, with known officials in virtually all states of the federation where cattle is bred and sold. Critics of the organization claimed it has foot soldiers made up of the herdsmen.

    Although it is not established that the leadership of the association equip the herdsmen beyond what is needed to guard the cows, it is on record that soon after the inauguration of the current Buhari administration, the association, through its North/West youth Leader, Yusuf Usman, offered to help the government with the protection of refineries, pipelines and to combat vandalism in the petroleum sector.

    The forces behind MACBAN

    Following the boldness and forthrightness of the leaders of Miyetti Allah Cattle Breeders Association in defence of the herders and the seeming inability of the Federal Government to listen to the demands of Benue State Government and some people to outlaw the group and arrest its leaders, some people are already alleging that the group is backed by the political and business in the country.

    Whatever is the situation, it seems obvious that since cattle breeding is an expensive business, the herdsmen, roaming around with the cows are not the actual owners of the cows. The owners, according to sources, are the very rich; the governors, senators, other law makers, former and current military leaders and other influential members of the society.

    “This fact explains why the organisation is so powerful and why the federal government seems unable to act fast now,” explained Dr. Israel Nwani.

    Notwithstanding that the association is well known, the Deputy Inspector-General of Police, Operations, Joshak Habila, recently said detectives are zeroing in on its leadership and other people allegedly involved in the Benue killings

  • IG Idris: police to probe Miyetti Allah’s role in killings

    IG Idris: police to probe Miyetti Allah’s role in killings

    Inspector General of Police Ibrahim Idris yesterday promised to probe all allegations raised against the Miyetti Allah Katah Houre by the Benue State government following the killings by Fulani herdsmen.

    The IG also said the allegation by Governor Samuel Ortom that killer-herdsmen launched their attack from neiggbouring Nasarawa State would be investigated Governor Tanko Al-Makura has denied the claim.

    Idris spoke at a stakeholders meeting in Makurdi, the Benue State capital, on his arrival to take charge of security in the state.

    Ortom said the dead toll had risen to 73 after two more bodies were found in the bush yesterday.

    He said some militia men were still in camp in Tungwa,Awe Local Government Area  of Nasarawa State

    Idris apologised for his widely criticised statement that the killings arose from” communal clashes”.

    He said 10 mobile police units had been stationed in Benue to track the killers and bring them to justice.

    The governor donated five Hilux vans for the operation.

    Police spokesman Jimoh Moshood, in a statement reaffirmed that the I-G was moving with additional five units of Police Mobile Force, making 10 units deployed in Benue.

    “More units of the Police Special Forces, Counter Terrorism Units, and Conventional Policemen are already being deployed to the State to comply in totality with the presidential order.

    “The full weight of the law will be applied on anyone arrested for being responsible for the mayhem in the affected areas in the state.

    “The commitment of the Nigeria Police Force to ensure law and order and protection of lives and property of all Nigerians throughout the country remains unequivocal and unwavering,” he said.

    Miyetti Allah

    Flags have been flying at half mast in the state after the government declared three days of mourning which will end today with the mass burial of the 73 bodies. The burial will be preceded by a church service.

    Today has been declared a work-free day in the state. Civil servants have been closing from work at 1.pm since Tuesday.

    It was learnt that there was “pressure from above” on Ortom to shelve today’s mass burial of the victims killed in Guma and Logo local government areas.

    Sources said some government officials in Abuja were not comfortable with the mass burial arrangement and live broadcast of the funeral by the international media.

    .But an aide to the governor said yesterday Ortom stood his ground to ahead with the programme.