Don’t politicise herdsmen killings, Osinbajo warns

…Nigerians decry security agencies’ response

Vice President Yemi Osinbajo has warned Nigerians against politicizing herdsmen killings across the country in recent times, saying such interpretation can inflame passion from certain quarters, leading to unpredicted crisis in the country.

Osinbajo spoke against the backdrop of rise in Boko Haram following politicization of the insurgents at the early stage of their heinous activities. He therefore urged Nigerians to be wary and not make similar mistake.

Osinbajo spoke on Sunday during an inter-denominational church service for the 2018 Armed Forces Rememberance Day Celebration at the National Christian Centre, Abuja.

He added that Nigerians must not politicize the development, saying that the development could degenerate the country’s fragile peace. He said, “ We must recognise that as dangerous and as deadly and heartless as these killings are, there is also the danger of our allowing politics to play a part as this could lead to what we sometimes say “pour petrol into an already burning fire”.

“We must not permit the politicisation of this tragedy. One of the reasons why for years Boko Haram thrive, was because of the politicisation of the insurgency. “There were those who are planning to benefit politically from the tragedy and they painted the opposition then as the perpetrator. “Again, we see some today who wants to benefit politically from the killings of women and children in Adamawa, Benue, Jos and several other places stoking the embers of ethnicity and religion.

“By their hate speeches, they want to fix the criminal acts of the few individuals on who thrives and hold people and they would want to create a religious crisis if they are allowed. “Our obligations is to stop them from playing dangerous politics that could threaten our unity and stability just as we continue to enforce the peace in the troubled areas.”

The Vice President later eulogised military personnel, especially fallen heroes, saying but for their efforts, Nigerians would not have been enjoying its current peace. He said, “I am especially honoured to be here today to join family and friends of our departed heroes to mark this day when we remember the incredible sacrifices that they made to fill the vacuum.

“Everyone of the men and women of our armed forces was killed in battle took the decision that they were prepared to lay down their lives for flag and country. “An incredibly awful decision indeed, this promises was tested and found to have been faithfully made.

“Many died in circumstances so terrified, many have left behind so much but the greatest love is of the family that they left behind wives, husbands, children, siblings and parents. “We have seen in the past few years how this rights have been challenged by the mindless extremism of the Boko Haram in the North East and how again our gallant military, the police and even the civilian population have risen jointly to rout these criminal combatants and restore peace to most communities in that zone.

“We have also seen even recently the killings that have resulted from the attacks of herdsmen and farmers and communities and also where farmers and communities have attacked herdsmen.” He added that President Muhammadu Buhari, due to the state of violence and loss of lives in Rivers State , the Badoo killings in Lagos and Ogun, has ordered the police and the Armed Forces to deal decisively with this killings and to ensure that the perpetrators were found and punished.

He said, “ The president has also in almost daily meetings and strategic sessions with relevant security and law enforcement agencies work to find lasting and enduring solution to this issues”.

In his sermon at the event, Bishop of Jos Province of Anglican Communion, Bishop Benjamin Kwashi, said the country was still yearning for rightful leadership that would take it to paradise. Kwashi, who represented Archbishop Nicholas Oko, the Primate of Anglican Communion,regretted the rate of hunger, hardship and killings in the country and asked the authorities to immediately rise up to the occasion and halt the ugly trends.

The clergy, who applauded the roles the military has played to keep the country one, asked Nigerians to always pray for them to succeed. He said, “We gathered here to say to those of you who are still serving Nigeria in the Armed Forces that we appreciate you, we are very proud of you and we celebrate you.

Thank you for the work you do for this nation. “The Armed Forces remains one institution of hope of Nigerians. They are serving and laying down their lives against Boko Haram, against Fulani insurgency, against kidnappers, against men and perhaps women who do not wish this country well, many of them have died, some needlessly. “Sometimes, when I look at the kinds of people that these people of the evil world are killing and I wonder how our political leaders sleep, I don’t know because I have conducted far more funerals in Jos than naming ceremonies and weddings.

“Children are being killed, the poor and what pains me is the poor that are been killed, the poor who will never see N200, 000 till they die. People who cannot do anything, they won’t even harm anybody those are the ones being killed. “It’s being made by some of the colourations we give hiding the truth instead of facing the truth. The institution of the Armed Forces still gives us hope and we are trusting God that somehow solutions would be found. “We gathered here also to remember those who have died in the line of duty, their families are grieving and will grief for a long time but they love this country so much and they die for it..

“We also gathered to say to the families of those who are serving and those who gave their lives believe me you are not forgotten. “The only religion the Armed Forces have is to keep Nigeria one, it’s a task that must be done for at least that was the doctrine I got in my time. ” I will never forget as a soldier boy when the war ended in 1970. We knew only Nigeria and I believe that doctrine needs to be brought more than ever before even if there will be a restructuring, Nigeria must be kept together.”

Meanwhile, a cross-section of Nigerians on Sunday decried the belated security agencies responses to the killings of innocent Nigerians in Guma and Logo Local Government Area in Benue State by herdsmen and in Omoku in Andoni Local Government Area of Rivers State by alleged cultists.

A relation of one of the victims of the massacre in Guma town, Benue State, Joseph Zakka told The Daily Times that the number of casualties would have been less if security response was timely. He said that the argument on television by the Assistant Inspector General of Police in Charge of operations at the Force headquarters that the incident occurred in remote villages was untenable because Benue State government had earlier before the attack warmed of threats issued by herdsmen who were opposed to the state anti-grazing law.

According to Zakka , the alarm was a enough signal for any responsive security agency to nip the killings in the bud. On his part, Martin Aloja, a security consultant said though Police may not wholly be blamed for the killings in Benue, Kaduna and Rivers states, the incidents would have been prevented through intelligence and proper security architecture.

The Daily Times recalls that the Inspector General of Police, Ibrahim Idris had at the weekend placed the personnel of the Nigeria Police in Rivers and Benue states as well as other contiguous State commands to the two States on redalert.

He also ordered the police personnel to embark on 24 hours crime prevention and visibility patrols throughout the country. The IGP further deployed additional five Units of Police Mobile Force, Police Special Forces, Police Aerial Surveillance Helicopters and Special Police Joint Intelligence and Investigation Teams to Benue and Rivers States in an effort to forestall further killings.

A statement by Force Public Relations Officer, CSP Jimoh Moshood said the measures were taken the to nip in the bud and prevent further attacks on innocent Nigerians by suspected herdsmen and other criminal elements. According to the statement, the Inspector General of Police( IGP), Ibrahim K. Idris has ordered Commissioners of Police in charge of Benue, Rivers and other contiguous States to the two States and their Supervising Assistant Inspectors General of Police and their personnel to be on red-alert with immediate effect to nip in the bud and prevent further attacks on innocent Nigerians by suspected herdsmen and other criminal elements in the mentioned States.

He said that the Deputy Inspector General of Police Operations has been dispatched by the IGP to Benue State to muster, coordinate and supervise the implementation of the new security strategies put in place by the Force to put an immediate end to the senseless killings and violence unleashed on innocent Nigerians by suspected herdsmen and other criminal elements in the two States. Police Aerial Surveillance Helicopters, five Units of Police Mobile Force; Police Special Forces were also deployed along with additional conventional Police Personnel, the Counter Terrorism Unit (CTU), Police Explosive Ordinance Department (EOD) and Special Police Joint Intelligence and Investigation Teams to Benue and Rivers State to work with the Police Personnel on the ground. Force Criminal Intelligence and Investigation Department (FCIID) Personnel.

“This is to bring new impetus to the efforts of the Force to nip in the bud further attacks in the mentioned states,” he added. In Benue State, eight suspected herdsmen arrested at the scene of the killings are currently being prosecuted; six of them were remanded in Prison custody while the other two suspects arrested at a different scene of crime are being arraigned in court.

While, the Assistant Inspector General of Police in Zone 4 Makurdi and Zone 6 Calabar, have been mandated by the Inspector General of Police to convey Stakeholders meetings in the affected states and also supervise the Police investigation and intelligence teams, and other Police Special Squads deployed by the IGP to the two states.

The Police Force calls for calm and support for the police personnel deployed to sustain the normalcy that has been restored in the affected States. It further implores the people to be vigilant and security conscious by promptly reporting suspicious acts or persons to the nearest Police detachment or station for prompt action to avert untoward incidents.