A civil rights group in Delta State has said the crisis in Benue State is a clear indication of terrorism and not clashes between two groups as claimed by the Nigerian Chief o Defence Staff, CDS, Gen. Christopher Musa
The Initiative For Social Rights Concerns and Advancement (ISRCA) said this in a statement signed and made available to newsmen by its National Coordinator, Derrick Oritsematosan Agberen.
The CDS had purportedly said in a broadcast that he recognized three issues behind the Benue killings, which are key points responsible for farmers-herders clashes, especially in the Southern and Western regions, conflicts in the middle/Northern territories.
But the group which rejected the CDS’ opinion said, “Again, I strongly disagree with the statement of the CDS, that it is not their responsibility to stop the political conspiracies that they are part of but can only prevent two parties from attacking each other.
“Firstly, the people of Benue in this sense were vulnerable and were attacked even when they were unable to defend themselves. The genocide in the region is a clear indication of terrørism and not clashes between two groups.”
“In 2016 and 2017 respectively, we saw the military enforce the “Operation Python Dance” in the SouthEastern region of Nigeria with heavily and increased military presence and patrols.
“Can we say this today, about Benue State, considering what has played out in recent times? Obviously, the intents of the SouthEastern people were spelt out even when we knew what they were agitating for but instead, they were tagged terrorists.
”Now, behold the real terrorists with even more sophisticated weapons than the military, they are now being addressed as herdsmen, clashing with indigenes.
“What have the Nigerian Army done, first, to disarm them or which dance has the military chose to combat their excesses rather than polishing their motives to be what they are not considering the death tolls and crime committed against humanity?
“The same way the Northerners gave insurgency edge in the Northern States, thinking they were frustrating the former President Goodluck Jonathan’s regime, because he is from Southern Nigeria, the same way it is in recent administration regarding what is playing out.”
