Samuel Ortom, Benue
state governor, says the same immunity from prosecution enjoyed by the
President and Vice-President appears to be applicable to herdsmen and their
cattle.
The
governor said this in reaction to a statement made by Mansur Dan Ali, minister
of defence.
Dan Ali had asserted that the anti-open grazing
law was largely responsible for the herdsmen
killings around the country.
“These
people (herdsmen) are Nigerians. It is just like one going to block shoreline,
does that make sense to you? These are the remote causes of the crisis,” the
minister had said.
Reacting,
the governor described the statement as “an insult to the sensibility of
Nigerians”. He lamented that the federal government valued the lives of cattle
more than humans.
“I
heard a statement credited to the Minister of Defense, saying the killings in
Benue were as a result of the anti-open grazing law. I can’t see him saying
that kind of thing. If he said so, I would have asked him what he has done
about Fulani herdsmen going about with AK47s,” he said.
“I
will not surrender my land to foreigners. You can go and do that in your own
state. It’s sad that those who are supposed to be assisting the President have
instead, turned round to misinform him, all for their selfish interests.
“As
a state, we are ready to accommodate those who are genuine and come to our
state legally, whether foreigners, to do business. But if you are in Benue, you
must respect the laws of the land.
“I
see the statement as an insult to the collective leadership and sensibility of
the people of Nigeria, for a minister of defence to ask Nigerians to
accommodate foreigners who illegally enter the country to cause problems.
“I
am now beginning to see that they have given immunity that is the prerogative
of President, Vice-President, governors and deputy governors to herdsmen, who
kill and to their cattle. Cattle in Nigeria now have more immunity than humans.
This is very unfortunate.”
- The Cable
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