In an open letter to President Bola Tinubu, Southern and Center Belt leaders have known as for the closure of Internally Displaced Individuals (IDPs) camps within the north and for all of the displaced individuals restored to their ancestral houses to finish what they termed the shameful coverage of permitting invaders to occupy lands.
They’ve additionally prescribed the establishing of a safety inquiry to find out the communities the place authentic inhabitants had been displaced inside the final twenty years.
Within the letter written underneath the aegis of Southern and Center Belt Leaders Discussion board (SMBLF) titled: “Killings within the Center Belt and menace to Nigeria’s continued company existence: the bucks stops with you,” they advised the president that the individuals of Mangu, Bokkos, Barkin-Ladi Native Authorities areas of Plateau State, the place over 200 harmless villagers had been killed by terrorists on Christmas Eve weren’t capable of share within the New 12 months pleasure he expressed to Nigerians.
They maintained that “the unrelenting bloodbath bordering on ethnic cleaning and armed occupation” of the territories of the indigenous peoples of the Center-Belt and most elements of Northern Nigeria by recognized ethnic militias have proven with none doubt that the Nigerian state, its authorities, and safety forces have continued to fail within the elementary responsibility of the safety and welfare of residents.
The SMBLF admonished Tinubu to not repeat the error of his predecessor whom they noticed, somewhat than settle for the fact of the hazard posed to the company existence of the federation by “an extra-territorial agenda of the Fulani ethnic nationality, backed by organized and well-armed militias,” most popular to see the problems as “farmers/herders battle.”
“It’s a battle the place one facet, totally armed, continues to assault and kill the harmless, who’re being intentionally defanged by brokers of the Authorities. Mr. President, your predecessor had all of the details and proof of an ideological Fulanisation agenda however most popular to pander and prevaricate than carry justice to the victims of oppression and genocide,” the letter said.
The discussion board asserted that the horror of the Christmas Eve bloodbath can be replicated in lots of different elements of the north together with Kaduna, Niger, Zamfara, Katsina and Kebbi states.
The leaders said: “In gentle of the foregoing, the SMBLF, moved by the patriotic need for the company continuity of Nigeria and, the peaceable and mutually respectful coexistence of its numerous nationalities strongly urges that you simply, Mr. President take into account the next:
“Your authorities holds an trustworthy and truthful safety inquiry to find out communities whereby the unique inhabitants have been displaced within the final 2 many years and implement the instant return and resettlement of the individuals of their ancestral houses.
“Additional to the above, the federal government ought to, in no distant future, shut all IDP camps to finish the shameful and sinful coverage of constructing such refugee camps for the indigenous peoples whereas their ancestral houses are allowed to be occupied by the armed invaders.
“That the Safety businesses, together with the police, the Civil Defence Corps, and others be specifically educated and outfitted to rise to the challenges as Nigeria is quick turning into a banana or pariah state of its kid-gloves therapy of terrorism.
“That the Nigerian state which fought a tribal civil battle to safe its company existence mustn’t permit one other internecine battle of numerous tribes led to by its permissive dealing with of provocative actions of native Fulani militias aided by collaborators from the West African sub-region and the Sahel.
“The need of the Fulani to be handled as an unique “race” can’t be allowed to proceed in a free and egalitarian Nation. They need to search land for his or her commerce in the identical means different Nigerians purchase and handle land and cease this sense of entitlement.
“Pressing steps be taken to restructure Nigeria in step with the tenets of true federalism, to legitimize multi-level policing such that states and communities will present commensurate safety for his or her individuals.
“That you simply, Mr President, ought to rise to the event and dare the powers that be; decisively cope with the perpetrators of the mindless killings, finish the bloodbath, and assure the security of lives and property of residents in all elements of our nation, particularly the Center Belt Area, and restore the dignity of residents and nationwide pleasure; for which you’ll ever be remembered! Mr. President, kindly settle for the assurances of our highest regards.”
The letter was signed by Chief Edwin Clark, Chief; Chief Ayo Adebanjo, Chief Afenifer; Chief Emmanuel Iwuanyanwu, President-Basic, Ohaneze Ndigbo Worldwide; Dr. Pogu Bitrus, President, Center Belt Discussion board, and Senator Emmanuel Ibok-Essien, Nationwide Chairman, PANDEF.