We find it shameful that while people were being killed, the president was enjoying a state dinner in Katsina State -Miyetti Allah condemns federal government’s silence over killing of herdsmen in airstrike

Miyetti Allah Cattle Breeders Association of Nigeria (MACBAN) has condemned the federal government over its silence on the killing of herdsmen in an airstrike. The group described the silence as a lack of regard for the death of ordinary Nigerians.

It was reported that over 40 herders and butchers were killed by an alleged military drone fire on January 25 in Rukubi village, Doma, Nasarawa state.

The group claimed that the herdsmen who were killed are “victims of high handedness of Benue State Government and the officers of the Makurdi-based Operation Whirl Stroke who deployed an aircraft/drone.”

This was according to a statement by MACBAN’s spokesman Muhammad Nura Abdullah who called out the president to commiserate with the families of the victims.

He said;

“If nothing, we expect the President to commiserate with families of the victims of this heinous crime.

 “MACBAN recalls this is the third time in one year that the Air Force was involved in the bombing of pastoralists and livestock in Nasarawa, Benue and Taraba States.

“The recent killings constitute a war crime and a panel of inquiry must be constituted to find out on whose authority the drone/aircraft was used and punish the culprits. 

“The trucks carrying the livestock were closely monitored until they reached the destination before the armed drone was unleashed on pastoralists.

“We find it shameful that while people were being killed, the president was enjoying a state dinner in Katsina State.

“We also call on the National Human Rights Commission to investigate this case and other cases involving shootings by the Air Force in Nasarawa.”