Fulani Herdsmen’s Attacks: Buhari Meets Onaiyekan, Kukah, 14 Other Catholic Bishops

ABUJA – Against the backdrop of frequent attacks on communities across the country by Fulani herdsmen, President  Muhammadu Buhari Monday night held a meeting with Catholic Archbishop of Abuja, John Cardinal Onaiyekan; Catholic Bishop of Sokoto, Dr. Matthew Hassan Kukah, and 14 other Catholic bishops. The meeting was held under the aegis of the Catholic Bishops’ Conference of Nigeria, according to Per Second News.

Details of the meeting were not made public as it was held behind closed door.

A source said the meeting took place inside the First Lady’s Conference Hall at the Presidential Villa for roughly 90 minutes, adding that the issue deliberated upon was the herdsmen’s attack in the South.

Lately, Fulani herdsmen have constituted an emerging terror group, attacking and sacking whole communities, destroying farms, raping women, kidnapping people and stealing, among other anti-social acts.

Recently, Fulani herdsmen kidnapped a police man after engaging a joint team of the Nigerian Army and Mobile Police Force personnel in Agatu, Benue state in a gun duel. It was gathered that the herdsmen opened fire on the security team who were on their way to investigate an alleged killing of two youths, after receiving a distress call.

One of the policemen, Corporal Ebiakpo Akparakazi, was also reported missing during the attack.

Agatu community was recently attacked and sacked by the herdsmen. The attack led to the killing of over 300 people and destruction of properties, turning the people of Agatu into Internally Displaced Persons (IDPs).

In a yet another unprovoked attack, Nimbo community in the Uzo-Uwani Local Government Area of Enugu State was in the early hours of April 25 visited with mayhem, death and destruction by suspected Fulani herdsmen. At least 40 indigenes of the community lost their lives.

Onaiyekan himself was last week attacked by suspected herdsmen in Benin, Edo State, on his way from where he went to attend the 10th year anniversary of the enthronement of Dr. Augustine Akubueze as the Bishop of Benin Diocese and also to attend the 10th anniversary of the Diocese of Uromi.

The other bishops in attendance were Archbishop Ignatius Kaigama; Archbishop of Benin City, Augustine Akubeze; Bishop of Nsukka Diocese, Godfrey Onah; Felix Alaba Job; Anthony Obina; Valerian Okeke; Gabriel Abegunrin; Matthew Ndagoso; Lucius Ugorji; William Ayenya;  John Nyiring; Camilius Umoh; Ralph Madu; and John Okoye.

Vice-President Yemi Osinbajo and the Secretary to the Government of the Federation, Babachir Lawal also joined President Buhari at the meeting.
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Other recent herdsmen’s attacks include:

*Fulani herdsmen attacked two villages in Gashaka Local Government Area of Tarawa state and killed 15 people;

*Twenty-five local government areas in Delta State was attacked by herdsmen killing over 23 persons. Interestingly, the police recovered 20 AK-47 rifles, 70 dane guns, 30 double-barrel guns and over 1,000 live ammunition, mostly from Fulani herdsmen during this period;

*Farmers in Lagun, Iyana Offa, Offa, Atagba, Lapata and their surrounding communities in Lagelu Local Council Area of Ibadan, Oyo State, alleged that a group of Fulani armed men attacked their communities at night, injured a guard and carted away valuables. (Per Second News)