Nigerian Army warns that commanders who fail to tackle Fulani herdsmen will face court martial

NIGERIAN Army top brass has warned all battalion commanders that whoever fails to take decisive action against murderous Fulani cattle herdsmen currently rampaging across the country will face a court martial.
 

Over recent months, Fulani herdsmen have run rampage across Nigeria, attacking farming villages as their livestock eat farm produce. Despite the frequency of the attacks, the Nigerian military has not addressed the matter robustly and although of late, troops have been deployed to the worst affected areas, the killings still continue.

Killings have persisted in Nigeria's middle belt with Taraba, Benue and Adamawa states, being particularly affected  despite the Nigerian Army launching Operation Cat Race to deal with the crisis.  No fewer than 24 people were killed in Okpokwu Local Government Area of Benue State last week in attacks by herdsmen.

In addition, there was a resurgence of violence in Plateau State where between Wednesday and Saturday 25 people, including a family of five, were killed. However, the police put the figure of the dead at 16.

Nigerian Army spokesman Brigadier Texas Chukwu said the army and other security agencies were working assiduously to identify and arrest all those involved in those acts, regardless of their disposition in the society, including government functionaries. He said the attention of the army had been drawn to the continued disturbing, senseless killings and wanton destruction of properties in the three states and strongly warns the perpetrators of these crimes to desist forthwith.

Brigadier Chukwu said: “We would like to unequivocally reiterate that the army headquarters warns the arsonists and the killers to stop or face decisive action by troops. Our rules of engagement are clear on arson and murder, therefore, no such criminal acts would be allowed in any of the aforementioned states.

“The public is please reminded that when troops are called out for internal security operations, they are not to joke or persuade anyone. We have warned our commanders on the ground to take decisive actions or face court martial.”

Last week, gunmen suspected to be Fulani militia invaded Daffo village in Bokkos Local Government of Plateau State, killing among others five members of Reverend Bitrus Ishaya’s family. Following the attack, the victims have been buried in two mass graves.