Nigeria: Northern Christian leaders claim government lacks political will to stop Fulani herdsmen’s impunity

Dec 8, 2017 by Jill

from World Watch Monitor:

Christian leaders in northern Nigeria have continued to lament the impunity with which Fulani herdsmen are attacking Christians in the region, especially in Plateau state, and the lack of political will by the federal government to stop it – in spite of their repeated calls.

Last Thursday (30 November), at least four people were fatally injured after Fulani herdsmen armed with guns opened fire at a mining site in Jol village, in the Riyom Local Government Area of Plateau state.

This followed the arrest of two Fulani herders who had allegedly led their cattle into irrigation farms owned by villagers in Tanjol, near Jol.

Other herders, angered by the arrests, resorted to attacking the nearby miners. Some Fulani also ambushed some people travelling near Vwak village, but the travellers reportedly escaped unhurt.

Rev. Yakubu Pam, chairman of the Christian Association of Nigeria (CAN) in the northern region, told World Watch Monitor the latest attack on Riyom’s miners, who are predominantly Christian, was “most unfortunate”. He reiterated the calls for the government to protect the lives of citizens – both Christians and non-Christians.

Read here