Shepherds Demand An Apology From The Military For The Accidental Bombing Of Nasarawa

The Coalition of Pastoralists Association has said the number of its members killed in the accidental airstrikes by the Nigerian Air Force in Nasarawa has risen to 47, while no less than 62 members have suffered varying degrees of injuries.

The association, an umbrella organization of herding groups in Nigeria, also accused the military of carrying out similar airstrikes against deprived herders in the local government area of ​​Keana and Awe In Doma in Nasarawa state, adding that soldiers killed their members last year. killed in Kaduna.

Speech to journalists on Tuesday in Abuja on behalf of the coalition, National President of the Miyetti Allah Cattle Breeders Association of Nigeria, Baba Ngelzarma; Vice President, Tabbital Pulaaku International Nigeria Chapter, Auwal Googa; Secretary, Farmers and Hunters Initiative for Peace and Development, Musa Usman, among others, criticized the military, federal and Benue State governments for showing no compassion for the family of the deceased a week after the fateful incident.

They said, “Apart from the most recent bombing of Tuesday, January 24, 2023 in Akwanaja, there were similar air strikes against innocent herdsmen in Keana and Awe In Doma LGAs of Nasarawa State.

“Recent airstrikes on Rukubi Ward village, Akwanaja, Doma LGA of Nasarawa killed at least 32 Fulani herdsmen, 15 Hausa drivers and truck boys while unloading livestock. Another 62 suffered varying degrees of injuries, some life-threatening. Before the incident, the Benue State Livestock Guards raided and seized 1,254 cows at Rukubi, Nasarawa-Benue border communities in the state’s Doma LGA.

“The guards insisted that the herders pay hefty fines, amounting to millions of naira. A negotiated ransom of N27,000,000 was agreed between the Fulani owners of the seized cattle and the government of Benue State. The shepherds received a loan from commercial banks. Apart from this, on December 3, 2022, soldiers killed innocent herders in Rugan Waziri, Rafin Sarkin Fatika village.

“A week after the tragedy, neither the federal government nor the military nor the Benue State government felt it appropriate to offer even a word of explanation or comfort. We, on behalf of the victims of these bombings, demand the immediate admission of responsibility by the Nigerian military, unreserved apologies and condolences to the families of the deceased pastoralists.”