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By Polycarp Onwub8k
Indifference and Outrage
On June 6, 2024, the Daily Independent Editorial voiced its profound concern over the apparent indifference of the Tinubu-led government towards the rampant lawlessness perpetrated by foreign nationals masquerading as herdsmen. These terrorists, wielding AK-47 rifles, brutally murder anyone who dares to challenge them as they let their cattle devastate farmlands.
A Legacy of Tribal Sentiment
This troubling favoritism towards foreign invaders began during the disastrous Buhari administration and has shockingly persisted under President Tinubu. A recent report highlighted a tragic incident in Niger state where terrorists ambushed and killed over twenty soldiers. Instead of seeking justice, the State Governor visited Aso Villa to plead for restraint, preventing the usual military reprisals seen in the southern parts of the country. As a result, these foreign terrorists were allowed to walk free, shielded by tribal biases.
Urgent Need for Action
Angered by the Tinubu administration’s complacency towards these terrorists, the editorial demanded immediate action to prevent chaos and anarchy, particularly in the embattled Plateau and Benue states in North-Central Nigeria. The government must act swiftly and decisively.
The Crisis in Plateau State
Currently, approximately 150 communities in Plateau state are reportedly occupied illegally by armed herders who have forcefully displaced the original inhabitants from their ancestral lands. The editorial lamented the previous administration’s deafening silence and inaction despite numerous pleas from then-Governor Samuel Ortom of Benue and his traumatized people to declare these armed herders as terrorists and bring them to justice.
A Call for Political Will
The editorial passionately urged the Tinubu-led government to demonstrate the political will to investigate the killings comprehensively and prosecute all involved. It demanded the immediate arrest and prosecution of any herder, or indeed any citizen, found with an AK-47 or any prohibited weapon. The federal government must put an end to the culture of complicit silence and appeasement of these armed herdsmen who have ravaged the country’s landscape in recent years.
No More Empty Promises
The editorial concluded with a poignant reminder that the Buhari administration routinely allowed defenseless citizens to be slaughtered on their farmlands, shedding crocodile tears in response. This cycle of violence and impunity must not continue under President Tinubu’s watch. The government must act now to restore justice, protect its citizens, and reclaim the nation’s peace and security.
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