The military and government of Nigeria have come under fire from the Miyetti Allah Cattle Breeders Association of Nigeria for their inaction regarding the killing of nomadic herders in Nasarawa State.
Recall that on January 25, a military drone fired in Rukubi village, Doma, Nasarawa state, killing about 40 herders and butchers.
MACBAN criticized the silence as abhorrent and a disregard for the lives lost by common Nigerians.
The fatalities were “victims of high handedness of Benue State Government and the officers of the Makurdi-based Operation Whirl Stroke who deployed an aircraft/drone,” according to the statement.
The pastoralists’ organization demanded an explanation for what it deemed to be the “intentional killings” of the butchers and pastoralists.
MACBAN’s spokesman, Muhammad Nura Abdullah, said in a statement, “If nothing, we expect the President to commiserate with families of the victims of this heinous crime.
“MACBAN recalls this is the third time in one year that the Air Force was involved in the bombing of pastoralists and livestock in Nasarawa, Benue and Taraba States.
“The recent killings constitute a war crime and a panel of inquiry must be constituted to find out on whose authority the drone/aircraft was used and punish the culprits.”
MACBAN claimed that “the trucks carrying the livestock were closely monitored until they reached the destination before the armed drone was unleashed on pastoralists.”
Before their deaths, according to MACBAN, the pastoralists traveled to Makurdi earlier that day to reclaim the 1250 livestock that the Benue State livestock guards had previously seized after they had paid a fee of N29 million.
The group criticized President Muhammadu Buhari for his casual attitude toward the killings.
Abdullahi said, “We find it shameful that while people were being killed, the president was enjoying a state dinner in Katsina State.
“We also call on the National Human Rights Commission to investigate this case and other cases involving shootings by the Air Force in Nasarawa.”
