*drags FG, state govt to ECOWAS Court, ICC
By; BUHARI B. BELLO, Jos
The Federal Government and the leadership of the National Assembly have been told to immediately set up a high powered committee to look into the deadly farmers and herdsmen clashes in the country which poses serious national security challenges.
Gan Allah Fulani Development Association of Nigeria (GAFDAN) made the call when it rose from a national meeting held in Jos, the Plateau State capital to deliberate on the skirmishes involving it’s members in the country.
According to a statement signed by its National Secretary, Alhaji Sale Bayari the group condemned the enactment of what he described as “ draconian, repressive and peace-breaching laws targeted at the means of livelihood of over 18 Million fulani hersd men in the country, without regards to the consequences of such oppressive laws to the corporate existance of the country.”
GAFDAN said, “The leaders of the association condemn the level of lawlessness which led to the deaths of scores of farmers and herdsmen in Benue State following the clash between livestock guards and herdsmen in the state.
“The meeting observed the relative peace in Taraba State despite the alleged killing of 900 herdsmen on the Mambilla Plateau of Sardauna Local Government Area of the state between the 17th to 23rd of June, 2017 due to the legal intervention by the association by employing the services of Barrister, Pro. Yusuf Dankofa, who filed a suit against the Taraba State Government and the Federal Government at the ECOWAS Court and the International Criminal Court of Justice at Haque respectively seeking Justice for the victims“.
According to the Statement, “The GAFDAN also filed another suit challenging the Taraba State House of Assembly and the state government on the enactment and signing into law the state Anti-Open Grazing law“.
The association said frantic efforts are being made to constantly appeal to its members to be law abiding despite the level of provocation leading to insecurity.
Bayari added: “We hereby call for a cessation of hostilities in Benue State between Benue State Government, farmers and the herdsmen forthwith while amicable solution are sought at a National level over this unnecessary blood letting confrontation and crisis that has the capacity of radicalizing and militarising both the farmers and the herdsmen which may result into an insurgency “.
“Skirmishes involving Fulani and herdsmen must be addressed for the interest of national security,” GAFDAN explained.
In a related development, the group added that plans are underway to hold the 1st National annual meeting where all issues relating to the fate of the Fulani would be addressed.
