*Says only govt can deploy drones
By; JACOB ONJEWU DICKSON
The Arewa Consultative Forum (ACF) has called on the Federal Government to as a matter of urgency, conduct an investigation surrounding the murder of over 50 pastoralists and butchers around Doma, Nasarawa State by a purported Drone strike on the 25th of January 2023. This was contained in a statement signed by Secretary General Arewa Consultative Forum,
Murtala M. Aliyu, dated Sunday January 29, 2023.
“To our knowledge only government has the power to deploy armed drones.
“The circumstances surrounding the killing of pastoralists who went to Makurdi, the Benue State capital to retrieve 1,250 impounded cattle from the Benue Livestock guards after paying a Fine of N29 million to guards,” it said.
According to the statement, sources told the ACF that drone strike happened while the livestock were being offloaded after the owners were forced to take back their cattle in trucks from Makurdi.
“This incident came barely six months after a similar incident in which hundreds of livestock were killed when a helicopter gunship belonging to the Nigerian Air force from the Makurdi Base Operation carried out the strike killing and wounding the animals and some herders in Awe also in Nasarawa State.
“In a serious country, the death of one person is enough to attract the attention and intervention of the government,” ACF said.
It added that the Nigerian air space is managed by the Federal Government through the Nigerian Airspace Management Authority (NAMA).
“So we expect the Federal Government to immediately fish out the perpetrators of this dastardly act, whoever they are to face the law,” it demanded.
ACF however, commended the Nasarawa State Government for the intervention made so far in giving medical attention and support to survivors and the victims’ family.
“The ACF condemns this unwarranted killing and extends its condolences to the families of the deceased and the Government of Nasarawa State.
“We call for adequate compensation to be paid to the families of the victims,” it demanded.
