A coalition of Niger Delta militants,
yesterday, gave the Federal Government a 21-day notice to end killings in the
country.
The group lamented the recent
killing by herdsmen in Plateau State.
The militants, who met at Ikot
Abasi, Akwa Ibom State during the weekend, also tasked the Federal Government
on protection of lives and property of Nigerians.
The militants warned the Federal
Government that there’ll be doom if it failed to forestall anarchy and further
bloodshed.
They declared a 21-day mourning
period for those massacred recently in Plateau State by rampaging herdsmen, and
threatened to declare herdsmen and Miyetti Allah Cattle Breeders’ Association
enemies.
A statement by leader of the
coalition, W.O I Izonebi, read, “As agitators with conscience, we take lives of
fellow Nigerians sacrosanct as no amount of provocation will lead to the
slaughtering of innocent Nigerians because of cows. “We, therefore, declare 21
days of mourning for the innocent Nigerians killed in Plateau State by
foreigners trained by late Gaddafi that are now masquerading as herdsmen,
according to our President, Muhammadu Buhari.
“We urge the government to do the
needful before the expiration of our 21 days of mourning to avoid a total
breakdown of law and order because it seems we do not have law, and government
is unable to implement its primary responsibility of protecting lives and
properties of its citizens.
“We demand implementation of the
following to avoid doom and more loss of lives: The immediate devolution of
power to states and regions to enable governors discharge their primary
responsibility of protecting lives and properties and declaration and
proscription of the Gaddafi mercenaries masquerading as herdsmen as a terrorist
organisation.
“The government and security
agencies saddled with the responsibility of protecting Nigeria and its
territorial integrity should apprehend the perpetrators of this heinous crime
against innocent Nigerians and humanity; total overhaul of the security
organisation and security chiefs, immediate arrest of the Miyeti Allah Cattle
Breeders Association leaders and its disbandment with immediate effect.
“We also condemn the inability of
the government and securityagencies to protect its citizens from foreigners
masquerading asherdsmen committing genocide in the Middle Belt of our dear
nation, Nigeria.
“We are not going to fold our arms
to see foreigners masquerading as herdsmen slaughter and kill hardworking
Nigerians that are going about their legitimate businesses and livelihood
anymore, when we have a democratically elected government in place.
“We are bold to ask these questions?
What is the primary responsibility of government? Why is nobody being arrested
and prosecuted for these killings? As agitators with conscience, we take lives
of follow Nigerians sacrosanct as no amount of provocation will lead to the
slaughtering of innocent Nigerians because of cows.
“We, therefore, warn that after this
21 days of mourning is over and nothing is done, we, the good people of the
Niger Delta, and coalition of agitators will have no choice than to declare
herdsmen and Miyeti Allah Cattle Breeders Association enemies of the Niger
Delta and Nigerians in general.
“Therefore, we do not wish to see
them in any of the Niger Delta states because the pollution and degradation of
our farmlands and the polluted waters and rivers are enough provocation, let
alone seeing our mothers and sisters in a life threatening situation and being
killed by cattle breeders, while the Miyeti Allah is applauding them because
they value the lives of cows more than human lives.
“Enough of this carnage going on, we
should use this 21 days of mourning to reflect and ask the question, if we are
truly a nation where the life of a cow is more valuable than human life.”
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