Human Rights Writers Association of Nigeria, HURIWA, has again said the failure by the Federal Government to declare as terrorist groups, Miyetti Allah Cattle Breeders Association of Nigeria, MACBAN and armed Fulani militia is unjust.
HURIWA said the Buhari government’s move to proscribe the Yoruba Nation separatist group led by Prof Banji Akintoye and Sunday Igboho would amount to killing the housefly with a sledgehammer.
The Office of Attorney General of the Federation, Abubakar Malami (SAN), had earlier declared that the Federal Government would explore all options within the context of the law to ensure a peaceful and united Nigeria.
HURIWA cautioned against any move to proscribe the Yoruba Nation group as a terrorist group even when such groups like MACBAN that backs violent attacks of armed Fulani herdsmen of farming communities all across Nigeria have all not been classified as terrorist groups by Buhari.
The human rights advocacy group said the government may have kept mum on the heinous activities of herdsmen most likely because these ‘favoured’ groups are mostly made up of kinsmen of President Buhari and heads of all internal security institutions under the current administration.
HURIWA recalled that on June 26, 2018, MACBAN, had described the attacks on some communities in Plateau State that led to the death of over 100 persons, as an act of retaliation over the killing of 300 cows belonging to its members.
HURIWA further recalled that on the 6th of January 2018, Fulani herdsmen in Benue State, who were accused of killing about 17 people in the state on New Year day, have explained why they attacked their host villagers.
HURIWA noted that attacks in villages in Benue state since the start of January have left 73 people dead. With communities razed and buildings destroyed, the state emergency agency says 40,000 people have been displaced by the attacks.
The Rights group also pointed to the fact that Fulani herdsmen had vowed not to vacate the Ondo forests when Governor Rotimi Akeredolu asked them to back in January 2021 with their leaders insisting that they won’t obey the governor.
But the rights group, in a statement by the National Coordinator Comrade Emmanuel Onwubiko and the National Media Affairs Director Miss Zainab Yusuf, said from the above historical trajectory, it is clear that MACBAN ought to have been declared a terrorist group by Buhari.
HURIWA carpeted the Buhari government for failing to declare as terrorists the armed Fulani militia in the forests of Zamfara who shot down a military jet belonging to the Nigeria Air force.
The Rights group wondered why the Attorney General of the Federation and minister of justice is after the Indigenous People of Biafra and the Yoruba Nation group but has failed to take similar steps against his kinsmen who are armed and dangerous.
