CAN accuses security agencies of aiding Fulani attacks

Christian Association of Nigeria on Sunday accused security agencies of complicity in attacks on defenceless communities in the Southern and North-Central parts of the country by Fulani herdsmen.

CAN, South-East Zone, made the accusation against security agencies in a resolution adopted after a meeting in Enugu.

The resolution noted that the herdsmen have created more problems for Nigerians than the dreaded Boko Haram sect.

The Christian association equally condemned incessant attacks by the herdsmen in different parts of the country.

President of CAN in the zone, Most Rev. Prof. David Eberechukwu, and the national chairman, Christian Enlightenment and Welfare Organisation, Dr. Ajujungwa Joseph, who signed the resolution, said 'It was high time the government took decisive action towards curtailing the scourge of the Fulani herdsmen'.

Drawing attention to the recent killings of villagers in Agatu, Benue State by herdsmen, CAN expressed dismay at reports that the herdsmen moved about with sophisticated weapons, such as AK47 assault rifles, without any hindrance.

CAN wondered why the security agencies would allow herdsmen to carry such deadly weapons and also used them freely on innocent Nigerians.

The Christian body accused the security agencies of willfully looking the other way while the herdsmen go about their murderous activities.

'The question on the lips of Nigerians had remained where do herdsmen get AK47 guns they carry and does it mean that both the police and the army are not seeing them?', the South-East CAN wondered.

It described the development as a nightmare for Nigeria communities that host herdsmen.

'It has been a great burden on the church in the East with regards to the attack by Fulani herdsmen on every part of the six geo-political zones in the country, with much emphasis on the Southern Nigeria and the North-Central zones.

'The attacks of the Fulani herdsmen on the innocent citizens of this country have become a nightmare on their host communities.

'The incessant rapes and murder of peace-loving Nigerians is highly condemnable,' the group said.

CAN, in the same vein, vowed that it would resist any attempt to allocate grazing reserves for the herdsmen.

'We condemn the idea of grazing fields and ask the sponsors of such bill to desist from it.

'This is clearly importation of terrorists into the nation and peace will elude the entire country,' it said in the resolution.

CAN also urged the National Assembly to refrain from passing any bill that would establish grazing reserves in the country.

Instead of grazing reserves, CAN suggested the establishment of ranches for herdsmen.

'We advocate the building of ranches, which will in turn provide schools, hospitals and employment to the teeming unemployed youths.

'This is what is obtainable in developed countries.

'We also call on the state governors to protect the communities under such threat and also strengthen community policing through the traditional rulers,' the association said in the resolution.

Continuing, the Christian body urged the Federal Government to come to the aid of the terrorised communities, 'where the herdsmen have created more problems than the Boko Haram'. Punch