The Nigerian military high command on Thursday revealed that the majority of recent killings and violent attacks on farming communities in Plateau, Benue, and other parts of the country are being carried out by foreign herders, not Nigerians.
This disclosure was made by the Director of Defence Media Operations (DMO), Major-General Markus Kangye, during the bi-weekly media briefing on the progress of military operations across Nigeria.
Responding to questions from journalists, Maj.-Gen. Kangye stated that intelligence and field evidence indicate that many of those perpetrating the deadly attacks entered the country through Nigeria’s porous borders, especially from Sahelian nations.
According to him, “There are some herders who are Nigerians who also get involved in crime, but most of the violence and incessant killings you are hearing in some parts of this country are perpetrated by mostly those who find their way in through the porous borders of our country.”;
Kangye explained that one of the key identifiers of the foreign origin of these attackers is their language and physical appearance.
“When you hear them talk in some instances, you’ll be able to decipher whether these people are from here or not. For instance, if I speak Hausa and my brother from the South-East speaks Hausa, you’ll know that his Hausa is a borrowed one,”; he said.
He added that “the Hausa spoken in Nigeria has differences between the Hausa spoken in Mali, Central African Republic or Ghana. So, when we arrest these herders and terrorists, even from the way they speak and appear, it is clear to see. Even the hair will tell you that this person is not from Nigeria.”;
The Defence spokesperson clarified, however, that while foreign nationals are largely responsible for many of the attacks, some Nigerians are also involved.
“So, one will also admit that many of those terrorising our people are foreigners, even though some of them are also Nigerians,”; Kangye said.
He noted that these revelations underscore the urgent need for improved border control and community surveillance to reduce the infiltration of armed elements from neighboring countries into Nigeria.
The Defence Headquarters assured Nigerians that operations against insurgents, terrorists, and bandits would continue with renewed vigor, especially in regions hit hardest by violence.
