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Nigerians hit the streets of the British capital on Monday to condemn the incessant killing of innocent Nigerians by suspected Fulani herdsmen in various parts of Nigeria.
The protest was convened by Mutual Union of Tivs in the United Kingdom (MUTUK) and was supported by members of the Nigerian community in the United Kingdom.
The protesters while chanting, ”Buhari, no more killing,” expressed disappointment on the silence of the Nigerian government.
Holding placards with inscriptions like “Nigerian government stop your silence on Fulani herdsmen’, ‘Blood ‘Nigeria life matters’, ‘Stop killing Nigerians, Enough is Enough”, the protest march kicked off at the Trafalgar Square, London.
Speaking during the protest, Dr. Kohol Shadrach Iornem, the Vice President of MUTUK, said that it was high time President Muhammadu Buhari offered a lasting solution to the killing of innocent people in Benue State.
He stated, “we are here today because of the current problems we are facing in Nigeria in the hands of the Fulani herdsmen who have continued to massacre our children, brothers, sisters, mothers and fathers.
“We are here because our people back at home have done everything within the law to bring an end to this ethnic cleansing. Our people back at home in Benue State have protested, they have held press conferences, they held meetings with community leaders to discuss the solution to these attacks, they have passed the anti-open grazing bill.
“Our leaders back at home have even visited President Muhammadu Buhari to plead with him to take decisive actions. It is sad that immediately after their visit, the Fulani herdsmen terror group killed at least 6 persons in the same Guma and Logo Local Governments where over 70 people were initially massacred and given mass burial.
“We believe the international community does not know about the current genocide in Nigeria and which is why there has been no reaction from them. We are here today to let the British Government know about this terror group (Fulani militia), has killed more Nigerians than the Boko Haram.
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“It is the responsibility of any government to protect the lives and properties of its citizens and the government has failed us in this regard.
“This is just the beginning. If President Muhamadu Buhari does not take immediate action to address the brutal killings of our defenceless people, Nigerians will come back here again. Enough is Enough!”
Dr Iornem submitted a petition on behalf of MUTUK to the High Commissioner, who was represented by the Head of Chancery, Dr Niyi Ojo.
Another petition was also submitted to the British Prime Minister, pleading with the British Government to:
“Intervene in this systematic ethnic cleansing because our security forces have been compromised.
“Evoke the necessary international mechanisms to establish the veracity of the substance of this petition.
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“Highlight the problems and humanitarian needs of the displaced populations, particularly women, children and the aged and support for voluntary organisations to provide assistance through self-help,” he said.
The group also requested the Federal Government as a matter of national security, to take the necessary steps to identify and disarm the Fulani herders and their accomplices and provide protection for the victims.
It also called on the Federal Government of Nigeria to provide financial compensation to victims of the unwarranted attacks whose livelihoods have been obliterated by the Fulani herders.
“The Nigeria government and the international counter-terrorism coalition should investigate the possible link between the Fulani terrorists and Boko Haram insurgency and the inflow of illicit arms from failed states in the African sub-region, with emphasis on the nexus with Libya and Niger,” he added.
Killings carried out by people suspected to be Fulani herdsmen are causing widespread insecurity in Nigeria. The cattle rearers have been named one of the deadliest terror groups in the world amongst Boko Haram, ISIS, Taliban and al-Shabaab. In 2014, according to the Global Terrorism Index (GTI), they were partly responsible for Nigeria being the world’s third most terrorized country
Leke Adisa
