The Plateau State chapter of the Coalition of Fulani Registered Organizations, has called on Gov. Caleb Mutfwang to extend his recent order to security agents to shoot-on-sight anyone found destroying farmlands in the state to accommodate cattle rustlers and those who attack innocent Fulani herdsmen going about their legitimate businesses.
The coalition, which is an umbrella body of different Fulani pastoralist and socio-cultural groups in the state, in a statement signed on Saturday by its Chairman, Hon. Garba Abdullahi Muhammad, said if Gov. Mutfwang is to be seen as being fair and just, he should also give an order that anyone caught stealing Fulani cattle or attacking herdsmen should be shot on sight as well.
While commending the governor for his prompt response to the renewed clashes between farmers and herders in Barkin Ladi, Riyom, and Bokkos Local Government Areas and his efforts at restoring peace in the areas, Muhammad said the coalition was worried that overzealous security agents and ethnic militia gangs could take advantage of the pronouncement and unleash violence on innocent Fulani people.
“While we commend Gov. Caleb Manasseh Mutfwang on his efforts at resolving the current ongoing crisis and restoring peace in the state especially in Local Government Areas, we also urge him to extend the shoot-on-sight order to cattle rustlers and those who attack innocent Fulani herdsmen going about their legitimate businesses,” Muhammad.
“By doing that, he will be seen as being fair and just. Anything out of this will be seen as taking sides and being partisan. We also fear that overzealous security personnel and ethnic militias could take advantage of the order and unleash terror on innocent herdsmen,” he added.
The coalition also raised concerns over what it described as the killing of herders, cattle rustling, poisoning of grazing lands and water sources, and destruction of livestock belonging to Fulani communities in some local communities in the state and called on the government to extend the shoot-at-sight directive on farm destruction also to cover cattle rustling, cattle poisoning, and attacks on herders and their livelihoods.
“The Coalition calls for fairness, justice, and equal protection for both farmers and herders. Lasting peace in Plateau can only be achieved through dialogue, accountability, and mutual respect,” the statement added.
Eze Chidiebere Paul
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