A Makurdi-based lawyer, Matthew Nyiutsa has filed a suit before the Federal High Court in Abuja demanding the proscription of Fulani herdsmen as terrorist group.
The lawyer joins President Muhammadu Buhari and the Attorney General of the Federation (AGF) and Minister of Justice, Abubakar Malami, as respondents in the matter.
In the suit marked: FHC/ABJ/CS/499/18, the lawyer argues that the activities of Fulani herdsmen in Benue State, and the Miyetti Allah Kautal Hore constitute acts of terrorism under the Terrorism (Prevention) Act, 2011 as amended.
The lawyer claimed that the activities of the herdsmen in Benue State has resulted in "the deliberate and intentional killings, massacre, wanton destruction of both private and public properties including residential and commercial houses, schools, hospitals/clinics, markets, water boreholes/reservoirs, and invasion of ancestral lands of the inhabitants."
He asks the court to declare that the armed attacks particularly from January 1, 2018 to May, 2018 on inhabitants of communities in Guma, Logo, Makurdi, Gwer-East, Buruku, Tarka, Katsina-Ala and Ukum Local government Areas of Benue state by Fulani herdsmen using sophisticated weapons like AK- 47 automatic riffles which has resulted in deaths of over 200 persons, destruction of both private and public properties in Mbadwen, Uvir, Mbabai, Nyier, Mbayer/Yandev and Saghev Council wards of Guma Local government and some parts of Gwer- West Local Government Areas.
The lawyer is also demanding the sum of N50 million as examplary damages over the attacks. No date has been fixed for the hearing.