Agatu Killings: Fayose expresses worry; as Buhari orders investigation

Agatu Killings: Fayose expresses worry; as Buhari orders investigation

Following the killing of over 300 people of Benue state in Agatu community by alleged Fulani herdsmen, Governor Ayodele Fayose of Ekiti State has described as worrisome, the silence of President Muhammadu Buhari on the vexed issue saying, “the wanton murder of Agatu people of Benue State and the silence of the Federal Government on this genocide is a clear invitation to chaos.”

Fayose’s expression came just as President Muhammadu Buhari on Sunday ordered an investigation into the clashes between herdsmen and indigenes of communities in Benue State in central Nigeria.

The governor, who described activities of the Fulani Herdsmen as inimical to the revival of agriculture in the country said, “Farmlands costing billions of naira have been destroyed in States in the South-West, South-East and North-Central zones of the country.

One wonders how Nigerians can go back to farming when those already in the farms are losing billions of naira worth of crops to destruction of their farmlands by the Fulani Herdsmen and the Federal Government is not doing anything about it.”

In a statement by his Special Assistant on Public Communications and New Media, Lere Olayinka, Governor Fayose, who expressed his sympathy to the victims and their families, added that the Federal Government must stop playing ostrich to the menace of the Fulani Herdsmen.

“If in the last one week, over 300 Nigerians were allegedly killed, several villages razed, with farmlands destroyed by Fulani Herdsmen and President Buhari is comfortable junketing from one country to the other, something is definitely wrong somewhere.

“This is because in saner climes, no country will have over 300 of its citizens reportedly killed with thousands others displaced and the leader of such country will not rush home from wherever he is to take charge of the situation by himself,” Fayose said.

He insisted that President Buhari must be reminded how he led a delegation of Arewa leaders to Ibadan on October 13, 2000, to confront the then Governor of Oyo State, Late Alhaji Lam Adesina over alleged killing of Fulani Herdsmen in Saki, Oke Ogun Area of the state.
The Governor asked: “If 16 years ago, President Buhari could be so concerned about the killing of Fulani Herdsmen in Oyo State such that he, as a private citizen led Arewa leaders to Ibadan to show their anger, why is the President silent now that Fulani Herdsmen are the ones allegedly killing people, raping women and destroying farmlands in Benue State in particular and other States in the country?

“Is the President unmindful of the possibility of Nigerians seeing his silence as conspiracy?

“Most importantly, what has Boko Haram caused Nigeria that the Fulani Herdsmen are not also causing now?”

While challenging the umbrella body of cattle breeders, the Miyetti Allah Cattle Breeders Association of Nigeria (MACBAN) in particular and Northern leaders in general to wade into the persistent involvement of herdsmen in attack on communities, killing and raping of Nigerians, Governor Fayose said:

“Nigeria is still battling Boko Haram and the country cannot afford another regime of anarchy, which this persistence killing of Nigerians by the Fulani Herdsmen can cause.”
Meanwhile, President Buhari has ordered an investigation into the Agatu killings.

A statement signed by Presidential spokesman, Mallam Garba Shehu on Sunday said President Buhari expressed deep shock at the latest incident during the past week, which led to hundreds of deaths in four communities in Agatu, Benue State.

He ordered security agencies to get to the root causes of the problem saying “We will act immediately. We will conduct an investigation to know exactly what happened. The only way to bring an end to the violence once and for all is to look beyond one incident and ascertain exactly what factors are behind the conflicts.

President Buhari noted that all Nigerians must learn to live together as one, in peace and unity.

“We are all one nation and one people. There should not be any reason why Nigerians of any group or tongue cannot now reside with one another wherever they find themselves after decades of living together”.

The President further expressed condolences to the government and people of Benue State, particularly the people of the Agatu communities, assuring them that the government would do everything possible to ensure that no such incident ever occurred in their midst again.

“Once the investigations are concluded, we will act immediately to address the root of the problem,” the statement said.

END