Benue killings: Herders association, CAN disagree over inscription on signposts at graveyard
- The inscription on the signpost installed at the grave site of those killed in violent attacks on communities in Benue state in January has been faulted by some Nigerians
- The inscription blamed the Fulani herdsmen for the massacre in Guma and Logo local government areas
- The signpost was installed by the Christian Association of Nigeria
Criticisms have trailed the inscription on a signpost installed by the Christian Association of Nigeria (CAN) at the grave site of those killed in violent attacks on communities in Benue state between January 1 and 2.
‘Burial site for 73 victims of Fulani herdsmen massacre’ in Guma and Logo local government areas was inscribed in white and brown block letters on a metal board with isolated green background, Premium Times reports.
Legit.ng gathered that the signpost was installed at the mass grave along Achusa road, Makurdi, the state capital.
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Secretary of herders association in Benue, Shettima Mohammed, said: “The attacks were carried out and the police are still investigating. It is hasty, and therefore, wrong, for the Christian Association of Nigeria to say the Fulani are the killers.”
He said that CAN’s action has further established his fears that the farmers-herders crisis across the north-central is being increasingly politicised.
CAN president, Samson Ayokunle, said: “There’s no hidden agenda behind the signpost. We put it there strictly for history. Shortly after the people were killed, the minister of defence, Mansur Dan Ali, said the killings were due to the enactment of anti-open grazing law in Benue State and did not deny that herdsmen were responsible.
“Other Fulani leaders have never said the attacks are not being carried out by their people, they only said the anti-open grazing law was the cause.”
He added that CAN put up the signpost because the victims were Christians and those responsible for their demise are known even though they have not been arrested.
A security analyst with SBM, Cheta Nwanze, said: “Those who erected the signpost in Benue were lazy. As lazy as the northerners who 50 years ago punished all Igbo for the actions of Kaduna Nzeogwu and Emmanuel Ifeajuna, or the Igbo who blame all northerners for the actions of Murtala Mohammed and Ibrahim Taiwo.
“Naming the perpetrators of massacres and mass murders is something we should aim for rather than collectively assigning guilt.
“In the absence of justice, such a collective guilt mindset will continue to prevail, and when we keep shutting down people who want to remember their dead, rather than let them air their grievances, we only add more heat to the pressure cooker without letting steam to escape. It will blow up some day.”
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Meanwhile, Legit.ng previously reported that the Benue state government released the names of those killed in the attacks on two local government areas by suspected herdsmen.
On January 1, Guma and Logo local governments came under siege from the rampaging herdsmen, killing 73 people, while dozens of people were injured.
Among those killed was a 4-year old boy, Terkimbi, an eight-month old pregnant woman, Sarah and a 76-year old grand-father, Pa Lortimbir.
Victims of Herdsmen killing buried in Benue state - on Legit.ng TV
Source: Legit.ng
