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Tag: Southern Kaduna killings

  • Southern Kaduna Crisis: Osinbajo meets stakeholders

    Southern Kaduna Crisis: Osinbajo meets stakeholders

    Nigeria’s Acting President, Prof Yemi Osinbajo on Friday met stakeholders on the Southern Kaduna killings, saying that the crisis in the region cannot be put to an end in a hurry, because people have developed hate and anger out of the crisis.

    The Acting President was in Kaduna to assess the level of progress at the Kaduna International Airport ahead of the proposed diversion of flights from the Nnamdi Azikwe International Airport, Abuja to Kaduna.

    However, the meeting he had directed the State Governor Nasir Ahmad El-Rufai to convene had in attendance, representatives of the religious bodies, traditional institutions and ethnic groups as well representatives of Fulani community.

    He said a quick fix solution would not be apt as the crisis has a long history which he is studying through previous reports of commissions on inquiry, briefing from security agencies and other reports.

    According to him, “I will like to begin a discussion on the very terrible crisis that has gone on for a while in Southern Kaduna. Let me say first that there is no question at all that many have suffered, families have lost loved ones, a lot of bloodletting has taken place in Southern Kaduna in the past few weeks and I want to express my sincere condolence to all of those who have lost families and friends and who have been traumatized by the terrible things that have been going on in Southern Kaduna in the past few months.

    “But I must say there’s no question whatsoever that violence would never stop any of the problems we are experiencing today, there’s no way we will resolve it that way. On this matter I have read documents; quite a few of the reports, as a matter of fact,  I have tried very hard to study the crisis in Southern Kaduna, personally, I have read quite a few documents including reports of past crises, recently I have taken briefings from the service chiefs a couple of days ago  on what is going and since I got in today, I am also taking briefing form some of the senior officials of the armed forces and state security.

    And I want to say that I don’t want us to be in a hurry, I am certainly not in a hurry because I don’t believe that a crisis where there is so much blood letting and hatred over the years can be resolved by a couple of meetings, no, I don’t believe that is possible.

    “I have talked to his Excellency the governor, that what I would like to achieve is not a quick fix but I want us to begin a process and I want to be a part of that process that will listen to each group separately and then get everyone together.

    And I want us to respect those who have lost their lives that we are not trying to fix something quick, we are not trying to resolve it now however it is resolved and pretend all is well. We will take our time and as I said, to sift through whatever is required so we can find a proper and lasting solution.

    Professor Osinbajo, who told the stakeholders that he had taken enough security briefing on the Southern Kaduna crisis, however noted that, violence, enmity and hate cannot solve the problem, but process of peace building must commence to gradually face out the crisis.

    According to him, “I have been briefed by security Chiefs about the crisis in Southern Kaduna, even as I arrived here today, the security Chiefs here have also briefed me. Local government Chairmen has briefed me. But, the crisis in Southern Kaduna cannot be ended in a hurry, because there is hate and anger.

    “But, how many more lives do we want to lose before we stop this crisis? We must therefore strive to put an end to this, otherwise it will consume everybody.

    “Violence, enmity and hate cannot solve the problem we are going through. We must therefore begin a process of peace building”, he said.

    Osinbajo however promised to convene meetings with representatives of CAN, JNI, MACBAN and other stakeholders separately.

    Governor El-Rufai in his opening remarks swore to God that, his administration will fish out and prosecute those who have participated in the killings or instigated killings in Kaduna State in the last 37 years.

    “Ladies and gentlemen that we invited here, I will like to say that you are here on the invitation of the vice president. There are some who were not invited for the reasons that they know, because, we suspect they are behind some of these problems and we do not intend as state government to give legitimacy to anyone under investigation for being behind some of these problems.

    He said, his government has identified bringing culprits to book, deployment of security and commencement of peace building efforts as panacea to permanently ending the Southern Kaduna crisis.

    El-Rufai however commended the Acting President for his usual assistance to the state government in its efforts to establish military formations in the troubled zone and securing the state at large.

    Meanwhile stakeholders who spoke at the meeting, like the CAN Chairman  Bishop George Dodo, Agwan Atakad, representative of the JNI, Alhaji Sanusi Maikudi and National Assistant Secretary of Miyetti Allah Cattle Breeders Association of Nigeria, Ibrahim Abdullahi traced the crisis to 2011 post-election violence and suggested ways out.

    CAN chairman, Rev. George Dodo thanked the acting president and the state governor for their intervention in finding lasting peace in Southern Kaduna and prayed that those behind the violence would be apprehended and brought to book

    Representative of JNI in Kaduna State, Alhaji Sanusi Maikudi blamed the crisis on the inability of the previous government to fish out those behind the crisis and failure to act on the recommendations of commissions of inquiry.

    He said the night attacks on communities started in Jaba local government of the state as result of the fallout of the 2011 post-election violence where he said a report documented that 80 percent of the persons killed were from Southern Kaduna and 35, Muslims were displaced in 18 communities and that only 5 percent have been able to return.

    Earlier, while fielding questions from journalists shortly after inspecting Kaduna International Airport ahead of flights diversion from Nnamdi Azikiwe International Airport, Abuja, Acting President Osinbajo told journalists that international communities have been
    sensitized to endure the temporary arrangement.

    This was just as he said that all contractors handling various works
    regarding the Kaduna Airport have been given matching order to ensure speedy conclusion of works as scheduled.

    He said, “We are here to inspect the progress of work at Kaduna Airport because we deserve the temporal substitute for Abuja airport for both local and international flights.

    “We are looking at the state of readiness considering that this is always a local airport and for that, alot of  work need to be done to bring it to the kind of standard that will be required .

    “The Work has made considerable progress, honestly the work has made
    considerable progress, but there is quite a bit to do.

    “It is going to be completed over this weekend like the ceiling, air conditioning and all that, security facilities. So we think that, it may not be in a complete state of readiness by Wednesday. I expect that within a very short period of time the airport will be very usable and comfortable state.

    “We asked people working on the airport to quickly speed up or to double the number of people who are working on the ceiling and some other facilities, they certainly need to work much faster and much more diligently to be able to deliver on scheduled.

    “One thing that is very clear is that not all foreign airlines declined. Some airlines are willing to come to Kaduna CAN chairman, Rev. George Dodo thanked the acting president and the state governor for their intervention in finding lasting peace in Southern Kaduna and prayed that those behind the violence would be apprehended and brought to o book.

    “I think that, foreign airlines will, but what we need to tell them is that obviously this is a temporary arrangement and they should really work with us on the temporary arrangement.

    “We are concerned about safety and comfort as they are. They are here also to see for themselves, and I am sure you have seen some of them. So, we will be happy if they work with us, and if they see this as temporary, they should be able to cope with the flights inconveniences here and there. So we are persuading them that this is a good temporary arrangement”.

     

  • Southern Kaduna killings: NBA charts path to lasting peace

    Southern Kaduna killings: NBA charts path to lasting peace

    For three days, a team of lawyers comprising leaders of the Nigerian Bar Association (NBA) was in Kaduna on a fact-finding mission to identify the  causes of the crisis in Southern Kaduna and suggest ways to ensure lasting peace.

    The team, led by NBA President, Abubakar Mahmoud (SAN), had its first stop at the office of Governor Nasir el-Rufai on January 16, during which Mahmoud suggested ways of addressing the crisis in Southern Kaduna.

    Mahmoud said: “Since I became the president, we have scaled up programmes in the public interest areas. We recently constituted a multitask force which we charged with the responsibility of working on ways through which we can support citizens affected by crises. A similar task force is currently working in the Niger-Delta region.”

    He explained that from initial briefings the team had from experts who were familiar with the situation, his team learnt that the escalation in the crisis in recent years had bred public mistrust, widespread anger and frustration in some of the communities.

    Mahmoud identified the negative role of political leaders in the area, who, he said, had taken sides and contributed to the atmosphere of mistrust and escalating violence. These leaders, he added, spread the misinformation, which fuelled the crisis.

    He noted that the non-implementation of past recommendations on how to deter recurrence of violence, created a culture of impunity over the years, which needed to be fully addressed.

    Mahmoud added that the recurrent violence in Southern Kaduna could not be addressed by treating it strictly as a legal issue or adopting strict military approach, but required the corporation of all.

    There was a need, he added, for stakeholders to tone down their rhetorics.

    For the political leaders, particularly the governor, Mahmoud suggested the need for more tact and statesmanship in the handling of the situation, While for the religious leaders, he urged them to demonstrate more caution in what they say and do.

    To achieve a long term solution, Mahmoud suggested the need for the state government to seek ways of engaging with all the affected communities and earn their trust. Emphasis, he added, should also be on non-military strategies.

    As a medium term measure, he suggested the need for neutral intermediaries to support the government’s measures in the areas of engaging with stakeholders and improving communication.

    El-Rufai, who praised the NBA team for its initiative, said the cause of incessant killings in Southern Kaduna was difficult to understand.

    He added that the spate of recent killings was a spillover of the April 2011 post-election violence. He said the Southern Kaduna crisis was inherited by his government.

    El-Rufai said: “The southern Kaduna is a 36-year-old crisis. I have decided to face it and I am going to end it. What we are dealing with now is 35 years of impunity. It is our intention to prosecute those instigating hate speech and bring them to book.

    “There is nothing that can be done to Southern Kaduna unless the application of law and order. The security agents have arrested some of the perpetrators. The masterminds will be brought to justice. We are ready to partner with NBA and enforce the law.

    After its interaction with the governor, the team headed for Kafachan, about three hours’ drive from Kaduna (the state capital), where it received a briefing on the state things from a group of security personnel on ground, before proceeding to some communities affected by the crisis. The communities visited were Goska, Dangoma and Bakin-Kogi (all in Jema’a Local Government), where members of the team expressed dismay over the level of destruction.

    At the Area Command Office, Divisional Police Headquarters, Kafachan, Commissioner of Police, Mobile Police Force, Bello Ahmed gave a picture of efforts being made by security agencies to ensure peace.

    Ahmed, who was deployed to Kafachan on December 24, 2016, admitted that there were violent clashes in the affected communities, but said the situation was amplified by reports of the incidents.

    “The scale of the crisis is being amplified. We are not saying there was no crisis, but was not as much as it is being portrayed,” Ahmed said, and urged the team to feel free to visit the communities and interact with residents.

    The scale of destruction was high in Goska. What used to be beautiful houses, but now burnt structures doted the agrarian community, inhabited by mostly Christians.

    The owner of one of the affected houses, Gideon Morik, said two of his vehicles were burnt with the house, while his 14-year old daughter,

    Anna was among those killed on December 24, 2016 when armed men, believed to be Fulani herdsmen invaded the community.

    He pointed to a fresh grave in a corner of his premises, where he said Anna was buried. Impacts of bullets were visible in the steel gate at the main entrance to the house.

    Morik, who said he was a Chairman of Jema’a Local Government, and two-time member of the state House of Assembly, pointed accusing finger at members of the next community- Dangoma, who he said instigated the attack.

    To Morik, there were two motives for the attack – economic and political. “Our land is fertile. We do not use fertilizser. That is why the Fulani people want to take our land by force. We did not vote for the All Progressives Congress (APC) during the last general election.

    That is why the state government has refused to protect us and has chosen to leave us to our fate.”

    The leader of the community, Malam Ayuba said 33 houses were burnt while four people are still yet to be accounted for in addition to those, who were shot dead. He said the major problem now was that of insecurity, which has made it impossible for his people to go to their farms.

    “If you move two kilometres away from this village, you will be attacked. The attackers are hiding in our farms, waiting to kill more people,” Ayuba said.

    At Dangoma, a community inhabited mostly by Fulani Muslims, the community head, Alhassan Seidu, denied that his people attacked Goska.

    Although his community was not attacked, Seidu admitted that those who attacked Goska were Fulani herdsmen, but not from Dangoma. He accused members of Goska community of being hostile towards his people before the attack.

    “Our people have lived in this place for over 500 years. We have lived peacefully with our neighbours. We learnt of the attack on Goska by some Fulani herdsmen, who are not from here. Although they (member of Goska community) have, on some occasions, acted hostile to some of our people, we were not part of the attack,” Seidu told the visiting NBA team.

    At Bakin-Kogi, a predominantly Christian community, the district head, Danjuma Gado blamed Fulani herdsmen for the incessant violent attacks in the area. He also blamed idle youths in the area for fuelling crisis.

    He urged the government not to abandon the people to their fate, but to come to their aid.  he praised the NBA for its initiative and assured of his commitment to ensuring the return of peace to the various communities.

    The visit by the NBA team to Kafachan was rounded off with a meeting with some selected stakeholders drawn from the affected communities, who gave first-hand accounts of what occurred and how best to achieve peace.

  • How to end Southern Kaduna killings by Yoruba, Igbo, other community leaders

    Kaduna community leaders of Yoruba, Igbo, Ijaw and Igala extractions as well as other non indigenes in Kaduna under the aegis of Community Leaders Forum yesterday gave insights into how the seemingly unending bloody crisis in Southern Kaduna can be curtailed.

    Several villages in Southern Kaduna were attacked late last year by suspected Fulani herdsmen, leading to the death of many people and destruction of properties worth millions of naira.

    Addressing journalists at a press conference, spokesman of the Forum, Chief Joseph Daikwo said if the state government can work hand in hand with the various tribal groups in the State, the antidote of ending the crisis would be proffered.

    Chief Daikwo who is the Onu (King) of Igala community in Kaduna was flanked by President, Igbo Community Welfare Association in Kaduna, Chief Chris Nnoli, President General of Yoruba Community in 19 northern states, Chief Abdulganiyu Oguntoyinbo, and Secretary, Urhobo Community, Chief Uruejuomah Joseph.

    He however, disclosed that the Forum had written several letters to the State Governor, seeking an audience with him, to no avail, adding that government will benefit more if it can listen to community leaders on how to ensure peaceful coexistence and harmony in the State.

    According to him, “We have what it takes to settle Southern Kaduna problem, but government has distanced itself from us.

    “We have written several letters to the governor without response. We don’t want to take action after damage has been done; we need to take action before any damage is done in our society because we are the peace-makers in our various communities.

    “Government needs to take care of people in high density area more than in Government Reserved Areas (GRA) where empty houses are begging to be occupied.

    “First, we are worried about the crisis that has led to loss of human lives and property in Southern Kaduna. Historically, Kaduna State has witnessed several crises over the past 30 years, and during such incidents, many people, including Muslims, Christians, Pagans, indigenes and non indigenes recorded casualties.

    “Up till date, so many families are yet to recover from the crises. Sadly today, many industries have closed down while many existing investors have left the state and potential ones have refused to come in due to the crises.

    “All over the world, no development can thrive in an atmosphere of chaos and crisis.  And the dream of Kaduna becoming one of the growing economies in Nigeria can only be realised when there is peace and security in the state.

    “This is why we are therefore calling on all aggrieved parties involved to sheath their swords and come together to resolve their differences.

    “We believe that as residents of Kaduna State, everybody is a potential victim whenever crisis occurs, hence we must learn to live together as brothers and sisters.

    “While we commend both the Kaduna State government and the federal government for deploying security operatives to Southern Kaduna, we also call on government to ensure that justice and equity prevail in the present situation. Security operatives should as a matter of urgency fish out the perpetrators of the attacks and bring them to book.

     

     

     

  • Southern Kaduna killings: Oyedepo denies inciting Christians against Muslims

    Southern Kaduna killings: Oyedepo denies inciting Christians against Muslims

    The Founder and President of Living Faith Church Worldwide a.k.a. Winners’ Chapel International, Dr. David Oyedepo, has denied reports that quoted him as charging Christians to take up arms against Muslims in the recent killings in Southern Kaduna.

    Various reports in the traditional and social media had quoted the Presiding Bishop as also saying that Nigeria could as well break up if religious and ethnic injustice could not be addressed.

    He also reportedly called out and berated “the politicians who were fun-watching the carnage or fanning the embers of violence”.

    But the clergyman, according to a statement issued by the Chairman, Editorial and Media Board of the church, Dr. Sheriff Folarin, has described the reports as fake.

    Quoting a report by a newspaper which quoted the Bishop as saying “God has anointed me to lead a revolution against the Islamic jihadists,” he described the report as false, adding that the video from which the quotes were taken is a 2015 video at a Sunday service in the heat of the Boko Haram crisis when churches, including Winners’ Chapel’s Northern assemblies were under frequent attacks.

    “This was before the present administration took office,” he said.

    “The message bears no relevance to today’s happenings; not even developments of 2016.

    “The reporter(s), either being completely unprofessional, lazy or simply wicked, made the 2015 message look like a 2017 church service message.

    “The trending video is NOT a 2016 or 2017 video.

    “To this end, we can unequivocally and authoritatively say that this quote, the report and other similar reports do not fit the context of the Kaduna crisis or any developments whatsoever in the last one year.

    “The reports are, therefore, fake, unbelievably and maliciously fabricated and outright lies. They are tweaked, baseless and fraudulent.

    “Bishop Oyedepo has not said, either in private or public, anything related to the Southern Kaduna killings; not now, not hitherto.

    “If there has been anything done, it has been prayer for peace and unity of Nigeria.

    “The intent of the original author(s) or fabricators is best known to them.”

    The statememnt said for the records, Bishop Oyedepo would not say any of those things in view of the dire straits the country has found itself.

    “There are too many problems at hand, which require divine intervention. He will not add to the throes and utter such divisive words.”

  • Senate raises probe panel on Southern Kaduna killings

    Senate raises probe panel on Southern Kaduna killings

    The Senate yesterday resolved to constitute an ad hoc committee to investigate the Southern Kaduna crisis.
    The resolution followed a motion by Senator Danjuma La’ah titled: “The recent killings in Southern Kaduna”.
    Senate said the investigation would cover other parts of the country with similar experiences.
    Senator La’ah noted that since 2011, various communities in Southern Kaduna had been consistently attacked by herdsmen, resulting in deaths, injuries, loss of property and displacement of communities.
    According to the lawmaker, on December 23, and “even as we speak, communities of Ambam, Gaska, Dangoma, Tsonje, Pasankori, Gidan Waya and Farin Gada of Jama’a and Kaura Local Government Areas have been under serious attack by the herdsmen, resulting in deaths, injuries, and wanton destruction of property worth billions of naira”.
    La’ah noted that the killings amounted to violations of the right to life, security of human persons, the respect of dignity inherent in human beings and right to property, not only guaranteed by the 1999 Constitution, as amended, but also in the African Charter on human and people’s right and the international convention on Civil and Political Right, of which Nigeria is a party.
    He noted that “this deliberate systematic killing demands the awakening of Nigerians to avoid a repeat of what happened in Darfur, Sudan.”
    La’ah prayed the Senate to observe a minute silence for the repose of the souls of the deceased, and called on the Federal Government to take measures to secure the right to life, to security and dignity of human persons, and right to property of citizens of Southern Kaduna, and to prevent further attacks on the region.
    He also urged the Federal Government to investigate the circumstances surrounding the killings and to identify the perpetrators and bring them to justice, as well as provide respite to victims.
    The lawmaker also prayed the Senate to urge the Federal Government to rebuild the ravaged city of Southern Kaduna; and to establish a Joint Security Patrol of Military, Police, Civil Defence and Civilian JTF for constant patrols and surveillance of affected areas.
    Senate President Bukola Saraki thanked La’ah for bringing the motion. He noted that it was the responsibility of the Senate to work to ensure peace and stability in the country.

  • Southern Kaduna killings: Normalcy returns as Army disarms herdsmen, natives

    Southern Kaduna killings: Normalcy returns as Army disarms herdsmen, natives

    Life is substantially back to normal in Southern Kaduna following the recent killings of innocent people by suspected Fulani herdsmen.

    Security operatives deployed  in the aftermath of the crisis have secured the area, while soldiers have been disarming residents on both sides of the divide in the communal/religious violence.

    The General Officer Commanding (GOC), 1 Division Nigerian Army, Kaduna, Major Gen. Adeniyi Oyebade, confirmed that his men recovered arms and ammunition from Fulani herdsmen and their opponents in Southern Kaduna, as part of efforts to end the crisis.

    Police Commissioner Agyelo Abeh separately told reporters that the situation there had been brought under control.

    He added that the police and other security agencies had deployed enough personnel to contain any form of lawlessness, but pointed out that “security is everyone’s business; it cannot be achieved by the police alone, but through collective efforts.

    He asked traditional rulers, religious leaders and other citizens to  help in  ensuring  peace in Southern Kaduna,saying: “The best way to resolve crisis is through dialogue.”

    Shedding light on the disarming of the warring sides,Gen.Oyebade said: “We have mopped up arms from the Fulani herdsmen and the locals. Our operations based on intelligence gathering are still ongoing and we are also working with the Department of State Services.

    “As it is well known, the army has approved two battalions to be stationed in Southern Kaduna. One of them is in Kafanchan. So, we are not leaving. We will be there for as long as it’s necessary.

    “We have other fundamental issues in the area which the political leadership needs to resolve. The governor has engaged various stakeholders and as our operations continue, peace is returning.

    “People are returning to their villages. However, it will take some time for them to calm down. They are repairing their burnt houses and they are also clearing their farmlands. We have assured them of maximum protection on their farms, and also for the Fulani herdsmen when they need to lead their cows for grazing.”

    The  Miyetti Allah Cattle Breeders Association of Nigeria (MACBAN), which is the umbrella body of Fulani herdsmen,  appealed for end to hostilities and asked all sides to sincerely embrace peace.

    Elaborating on the association’s position,its National Assistant Secretary , Dr. Ibrahim Abdullahi, asked the people  of  “the entire people of Southern Kaduna to forgive what has happened. Both parties should learn to forgive. This crisis will never end if you think you would go and revenge what happened to you.So we’re appealing to all parties to sheathe their swords and embrace peace.

    “We want to also support the steps so far taken by the government of Kaduna State and all the security agencies in order to return normalcy to the area.

    “We call on leaders in particular, political, religious and otherwise to desist from making inflammatory speeches that could escalate the situation.  There should be no hate speech, those speeches that point towards religious sentiment or ethnic jingoism.  Let us all work for peace.  We inherited a peaceful Southern Kaduna and I don’t think we are sensible, if we bequeath to our children and grandchildren a Southern Kaduna that is fighting itself.

    “We want to assure that we will continue to work with people of goodwill.  In Southern Kaduna, there are good people that are out for peace.  And I want to make it clear that there are chiefdoms where you never, ever experience any clash because the traditional rulers there are out to promote peace.  Kagoro, Marwa is one of them eventhough some people mischievously leave from other places and come to Marwa and attack.

    “We are going to work with people of like minds  to ensure total reconciliation”.

    The President of the Southern Kaduna People’s Union (SOKAPU), Solomon Musa, in reaction to the ceasefire agreement said: “The people of Southern Kaduna are ready to embrace peace, provided the peace move is not deceptive”.

  • Catholic lawyers deplore Southern Kaduna killings

    The National Association of Catholic Lawyers (NACL) (Lagos Archdiocese) has condemned incessant killings in  Southern Kaduna.

    According to the Vicar-General of the Catholic Archdiocese of Kafanchan, Ibrahim Yakubu, 53 villages had so far been attacked, 808 people killed, and 1,422 houses and 16 churches destroyed.

    NACL urged the government to take urgent steps to restore law and order in Southern Kaduna.

    “If it is true that the criminals were from outside Nigeria as alleged by the Kaduna State government, we would like to know what the Federal Government has done or is doing to arrest the ugly situation and bring the perpetrators to book,” the lawyers said.

    The association faulted the introduction of a new curriculum that merges Islamic Studies and Christian Religious Studies from primary one to junior secondary school three.

    The lawyers said the unified education curriculum on religious studies designed by the Nigerian Educational Research and Development Council (NERDC) violates the Section 10 and 38 (1) and (2) of the 1999 Constitution.

    The sections provide that the government “shall not adopt any religion as state religion”; that every person “shall be entitled to freedom of thought, conscience and religion,” and that “no person attending any place of education shall be required to receive religious instruction…if not approved by his parents.”

    NACL said a textbook published in furtherance of the policy has Christianity and Islamic studies next to each other, and is capable of “leaving young impressionable minds at the mercy of their imaginations or the orientation of whoever the teachers are.”

    The lawyers, at a briefing in Lagos by their President, Geraldine Wey, and Chairman, Advocacy Committee, Matthew Egbadon, urged NERDC to come out with a clear policy statement reverting to the status quo ante.

    NACL also faulted a bid to establish a National Board for Arabic and Islamic Education to cater for Islamic education, saying there were already parastatals under the Ministry of Education, that cater for the special needs of Muslims.

    “We call on Mr Adamu Adamu, the Hon Minister of Education, to urgently withdraw the memo, which to say the least, is discriminatory and self-serving,” the association said.

    The association criticised the bill seeking to increase the powers and jurisdiction of Sharia Law by amending sections 262 and 277 of the Constitution, which limit the jurisdiction of Sharia Court of Appeal in Abuja to appeals in Islamic personal laws such as marriage and succession.

    The bill seeks to vest the court with powers to determine appeals in criminal matters. According to NACL, if the amendment is allowed, not only would Abuja no longer be a neutral place, the amendment would affect all Nigerians living in Abuja irrespective of their faith.

    “We urge the House of Representatives to jettison this Bill in the interest of peace and harmony in the country because its passage would violate the Constitution,” the association said.

    NACL demanded justice for Mrs Bridget Agbahime (74), who was killed last June 2 on the allegation of blasphemy.

    “The Federal Government working with the Kano State government must reopen the case, fish out the culprits and ensure that they are tried in accordance with the laws of the land,” NACL said.

  • Southern Kaduna killings: What Buhari should do to end killings – Fulani leaders

    The Miyetti Allah Cattle Breeders Association of Nigeria (MACBAN) wants the federal government to adopt The Gambia formula in finding a permanent solution to the killings in Southern Kaduna.
    Addressing journalists at the Secretariat of Nigeria Union of Journalists (NUJ), Kaduna Council, the Assistant National Secretary of MACBAN, Dr. Ibrahim Abdullahi said time has come for all the warring parties to shield their swords and embrace peaceful reconciliation for the troubled areas to regain its lost peace.
    The Gambia approach, according to him, is a situation where the federal government will take stock of every nomad and his animals that are coming into the country as well as ensure adequate security of lives and animals that are in their custody.
    The Fulani leader said, “We have the ECOWAS protocol on trans-human. There is also ECOWAS protocol on free movement of goods and people within the sub-region.
    “These protocols allow you to take your cattle from Central African Republic, Republic of Cameroon, part of Chad, through the entire Nigeria to Benin Republic and return and Nigeria is a signatory to these.
    “That means that if a Cameroonian nomad comes into Kaduna State, may be to Igabi for instance, it is the responsibility of Kaduna State Government to ensure his safety and I think that is where the issue of compensation came in.

    “I think the Federal Government should try to adopt the Gambian approach. The Gambian government is also a signatory to these two protocols. Any country within the West African sub-region, who wants to send its nomads to Gambia should apply officially, telling the number of nomads and cows expected there; telling them the stalk routes they will ply to Gambia and the time duration they will stay in that country,” he said.

  • Southern Kaduna killings: Monarchs, Fulani leaders agree on ceasefire 

    …As GOC brokers peace

     

    Traditional Rulers and heads of Fulani herdsmen in the warring Southern part of Kaduna State have reached agreement with the top security chiefs to end the incessant attacks and killings in the area.

    Parts of the resolutions reached include the immediate stoppage of any form of violent activity, illegal display of arms and hiring of machinery to cause violence or carry out attacks in the area.

    The meeting, which was convened by the General Officer Commanding (GOC), 1 Division Nigerian Army, Major General Adeniyi Oyebade had in attendance, the GOC, Police Commissioner, other top military officers, about 10 traditional rulers of Southern Kaduna extraction, including the Chief of Godogodo, National President of Miyetti Allah Cattle Breeders Association of Nigeria (MACBAN), the heads of Fulani communities and other stakeholders.

    Reading the resolutions of the meeting held behind closed doors for over five hours at the Nigerian Army School of Artillery, in Kachia, the GOC, said, the meeting also resolved to stop children from grazing cattle, having identified such as, one of the sources of farmer/herdsmen clash.

    According to the GOC, “we agreed that, there will be immediate stoppage to all forms of violent activities from all the stakeholders. We want to encourage the setting up of peace and reconciliation committees at the ward levels, district level and the local government level by the Fulani herdsmen, the locals and other critical stakeholders in the various communities. Their focus will be to continue the effort which is started here today to deal with all the local issues that may trigger any form of violent activities.

    “It has also been agreed that children will stop being at the helms of grazing cattle in Kaduna state and in the North West zone, Miyetti Allah Cattle Breeders Association of Nigeria (MACBAN) has made that commitment that they are going to make sure that all children are prevented from shepherding their cattle because it has been identified as one of the areas of conflict because they do not know much about area that they are not supposed to graze their cattle.

    “Any destruction of farm lands or killing of cattle, the perpetrators will be brought before the committees that will be set up by the various levels with the aim of administering justice to make sure that if there are penalties to be paid, they should be done after being agreed by members of the committee at the various levels.

    “It has also been agreed that within the next few days, efforts will be made at all levels to call all their members including the youth, the Fulani herdsmen from carrying weapons when moving around, the use of weapons by anybody other than the security forces is absolutely and completely illegal. The security officers and agencies will take decisive actions against any group that violates this decision effective from 1st November, 2016.

    “We will not tolerate open display of arms by any group and we want to implore all of you to send the message across to all your people that the use of arms is prohibited and a violation of the laws of the country.

    “Effective 1st November, 2016, anybody found blocking the main road, the high way with the purpose of stopping vehicles from plying those roads with the intention of profiling the passengers in such buses, that action will desist immediately, any form of road block by any group will be decisively dealt.

    “We want to urge you all to get this message across to all your youth, any form of crime that may be committed in the days and weeks to come, efforts should be made through the ward level to resolve it and where it cannot be resolved to make the appropriate reporting to the security agencies, in this case, the Nigerian Police as the lead agency in our internal security operations.

    “He urged the critical stakeholders to be mindful of introducing issues of ethnicity and religion into the crisis, we must be wary of the fact that this is a cause of action that will do no good to anybody, we must look at these issues and deal with them appropriately.

    “Whether it is true or not that the Fulani or the herdsmen bring in mercenary herdsmen with the purpose of carrying out attacks in the various communities, while it has not been verified, we want to urge our brothers, the Fulani herdsmen and of course our locals to desist henceforth from bringing in outsiders into the affairs of your various communities. We believe strongly that these issues can be resolved in house.

    “These resolutions that I have read out are by no means exhaustive, whatever efforts that individually or collectively that could be brought to the table, please, you are free to do that in the spirit of peace and unity. The security forces will remain deployed in the volatile areas to make sure that any violations of some of the decision we have reached are dealt with speedily.

    “It will not be in the interest of anybody to test the resolve of the security agencies to do what they must do to ensure the peace and security of the land, while we are doing that, we are also available to you to bring any issue that you feel could make some positive contributions with the aim of ensuring peace and harmony.

    “Other issues such as the use of drugs, I believe those are issues that can be dealt with and discussed at your various levels. We also want to urge the chairmen of the local governments to provide the necessary support to all the committees and groups and to begin a wide spread sensitization at all levels so that they can begin to understand the decisions we have reached and to make sure that we do not experience the kind of atrocities we have witnessed over the last few days”, the GOC said