Human Rights group asks president to stop herdsmen

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March 14, 2016 2:12 PM

The Human Rights Writers Association of Nigeria (HURIWA) has called on President Muhammadu Buhari to rein in armed hoodlums who are on rampage all across Nigeria and to restore normalcy and security in the country.

Mohammadu Buhari

A former Federal Commissioner of the National Human Rights Commission, Mr Emmanuel Onwubiko, National Coordinator of HURIWA has called for the intervention of the president.

He said that armed Fulani herdsmen are violently attacking and killing villagers and farmers in many states but the security agencies are standing by and have done nothing to bring this ugly situation to a bearable minimum.

Onwubiko said the present administration should arrest, prosecute and sanction offenders who commit mass killings.

"We have also canvassed comprehensive investigation of allegations that armed security forces (military) invaded Ogoniland and engaged in wanton killings and destruction of lives and property of innocent people in those communities in Rivers state. We use this opportunity to call on the relevant agencies of government such as the National Assembly and the National Human Rights Commission to wake up to their legislative and regulatory responsibilities and stop these killings of citizens by compelling relevant security agents to do their statutory duties and stop the bloodshed.”

“The primary constitutional duty of government is to safeguard lives and property of the citizenry. The moment government fails to keep to this sacred duty then it has no need remaining in office since it has failed to discharge its constitutional mandate. The cases of violent inter party conflicts in Rivers State is unfortunate. Both the Federal and State government should be held responsible for this apparent failure to stop the violence and punish offenders irrespective of their status or political affiliations. Nobody is above the law. Impunity must be curbed” Onwubiko added.The Human Rights Activist said the reason people carry weapons and unleash violence on others is because the relevant laws are not being enforced to punish offenders.

“Impunity multiplies such heinous crimes in Nigeria. If people have the consciousness that when they kill other citizens, the state is willing to and professional, competent to enforce relevant laws against murder then they would think twice before committing crimes. Government must demonstrate the political will to enforce the laws and prosecute offenders in the competent courts of law” he said.

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