Clergy Urges FG to Stop Attacks by Herdsmen

By John Shiklam in Kaduna

The President of the United Church of Christ in Nigeria, popularly known as Haddediyar Ekklisiyar Krista a Nigeria (HEKAN), Reverend Amos G. Kiri, has called on the federal government to deploy  the same vigour and  tactics used in dislodging Boko Haram insurgent in the North-east in fighting the menace of rampaging herdsmen attacking and killing innocent people across the country.

Speaking at the 51st national annual convention of the church in Kaduna yesterday, Kiri decried the murderous activities of herdsmen across the country, particularly in the southern part of Kaduna and Benue States.

He said the activities of the herdsmen were as dreadful like the Boko Haram insurgents, stressing that government must take prompt and adequate steps in addressing the situation to stop the killing of innocent people and destruction of their property.

He urged that while the successful war against Boko Haram  should be sustained, government must  equally pay serious attention to the nefarious activities of herdsmen that are destabilising communities.

Kiri said: “The continuous killings by herdsmen across the length and breadth of this country is a thing of great concern to all peace loving Nigerians.

“May I urge the government to use the same massive attacks used by the combined efforts of the gallant armed forces of Nigeria in dislodging Boko Haram from Sambisa forest on the herdsmen who are  attacking  and killing innocent Nigerians.

“This country has suffered enough from the hands of the herdsmen.  The succeeding war on the Boko Haram terrorists should be sustained.  The killing must be stopped.

“Government should provide adequate security for the returnees from IDP camps to avoid unwanted killings. Government must not fail in this responsibility.”

The HEKAN President commended  efforts by the Kaduna State government in finding lasting solution to  crisis in the Southern part of the state where there had been massive killings allegedly by herdsmen.

He urged the state government to ensure that those behind the killings were brought  to face the laws of the land.

“We as a church, are ready to make Kaduna State a better place to live again. This is a task that we must all embrace regardless of our religious or ethnic bearings,” the clergy man said.