The United States of America (USA) based Nigerians have asked President Muhammadu Buhari to disarm all arm bearing herdsmen as its against the laws of Nigeria.
A statement issued by the Nigerian community in the Northeastern USA, following its peaceful demonstration in Washington DC and made available to our correspondent said “the Nigerian constitution does not allow civilians to bear arms and the herdsmen should not be an exception.”
The conveners included Conveners: Prof. Joseph T. Zume (Pennsylvania), Dr. Michael O. Nwafor (District of Columbia), Engr. Mvendaga L. Uva (Maryland), Mrs. Awashima Tor-Agbidye (New Jersey, Ms. Tilly N. Atedze (ESQ) (Maryland), Mr. Charles K. Bassey (New York), Engr. Mathew Atim (Ohio) and Dr. John A. Enenche (Virginia).
They also tasked the President to use “every means to quell and prevent further herdsmen attacks in all parts of the country.”
Some of their other demands include; “compensate and resettle the families of all victims of the Fulani herdsmen massacres; designate Fulani herdsmen as a terrorist group, and proscribe both the Miyetti Allah Cattle Breeders Association (MACBAN) and the Miyetti-Allah Kautal Hore as terrorist-aiding organizations; arrest and prosecute leaders of MACBAN and Miyetti-Allah Kautal Hore, and also stop the inflow of herdsmen into the country from outside Nigeria.”
The group also asked the President to “adopt and promote a policy for ranching of cattle as done elsewhere, which is a more sustainable solution to the herder-farmer crises in the country” adding that “open grazing is unsustainable in the face of a fast growing population and changing climatic conditions.”
“It is our hope that the Nigerian government responds to the above items with urgency. In the meantime, we also wish to call on the United States and the international community, to also urgently engage with the Buhari-led government, to help stop the senseless killings of innocent Nigerian citizens by terrorists Fulani herdsmen” the statement said.
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