Terrorism

Opinion: An Open Letter to President Muhammadu Buhari – Fani-Kayode
Boko Haram, Fulani Herdsmen, Human Rights, Justice, News, Nigeria, Security, Terrorism

Opinion: An Open Letter to President Muhammadu Buhari – Fani-Kayode

Mr. President, many believe that you cannot read and those that believe that you can claim that you cannot go beyond three lines. They say outside of that you can only comprehend cartoons. I do not share either view. I know you well enough to concede that when you consider a literary submission of sufficient importance you have the presence of mind, discipline, health, intelligence and ability to read through it very slowly and very carefully weighing up every word.  And that is precisely as it should be. The first open letter that I wrote to you was in December 2015 and the following serves as the second. You will forgive me because this is a long letter and I am fully aware that your attention span or ability to retain too much information in one fell swoop may not be as good as...
We Shall Not Bow – Femi Fani-Kayode
Fulani Herdsmen, News, Nigeria, Religion, Security, Terrorism

We Shall Not Bow – Femi Fani-Kayode

"I am the leader of Uthman Danfodio dynasty. I have never seen where in the hundred books that Uthman Danfodio said Nigeria belongs to the Fulani. What he wrote was the role of Islam in leadership, governance etc. He never mentioned of conquering any particular land or claimed ownership of any territory. People make comments that Jihad is to Islamise every country, but I said no. Danfodio never came to Islamise any country, he preached against bad government. That fake write-up was by those who don’t want peace in this country and we had denounced that. I am the National Patron of the Miyetti Allah Cattle Breeders Association (MACBAN). It has been in existence for 44 years. There are two other organisations that I know, but others I don’t know. Please verify from us before you put blame ...
Bishop Matthew Kukah’s Homily at the Funeral Mass of Seminarian Michael Nnadi
Boko Haram, Human Rights, Life, News, Nigeria, Religion, Security, Terrorism

Bishop Matthew Kukah’s Homily at the Funeral Mass of Seminarian Michael Nnadi

Homily of His Lordship Bishop Matthew Hassan Kukah at the Funeral Mass of Seminarian Michael Nnadi at Good Shepherd Seminary Kaduna (11th February 2020). 1. We have gathered around the remains of Michael in supplication but also as solemn witnesses to the penetrating darkness that hovers over our country. I have the rare honour of being considered the principal mourner in this ugly tragedy. It is not an honour that I am worthy of receiving. The honour belongs to God Almighty who created Michael and marked out this moment and pathway for him. The greater honour goes to his immediate family whose devotion as Catholics laid the foundation for his faith and vocation. To his grandmother, Mrs. Eunice Nwokocha, a most simple, beautiful and devout Catholic woman whose devotion and dedication sa...
RE: Unlawful Killing, Nchatancha Community, Emene, Enugu East LGA
Crime, Fulani Herdsmen, News, Nigeria, Press Statement, Security

RE: Unlawful Killing, Nchatancha Community, Emene, Enugu East LGA

Ladies and gentlemen, everyone, today again, 22/08/2019, our stalls and offices received disheartening news over the unlawful killing of a woman (an Igbo woman) who hails from Nchatancha community Emene, Enugu East LGA by persons suspected to be herdsmen.  In fact, reports received from members of the community and those around it describe the perpetrators of this heinous act as ‘Fulani’ herdsmen. Some reports stress the shameful and heart-rending manner of this death. Angry youth demonstrators took over various locations in the capital today following up this incident with protests and various staged demonstrations over the unlawful killings. We note that various other communities within Enugu have had to deal with these sorts of incidents before and have as before, reported these i...
Opinion: Buhari’s Misguided Invitation of Shiites to Terrorism by Femi Aribisala
Human Rights, News, Nigeria, Religion, Security, Terrorism

Opinion: Buhari’s Misguided Invitation of Shiites to Terrorism by Femi Aribisala

Buhari is busy importing the incendiary of Middle Eastern Sunni/Shiite conflagration into Nigeria. The decision of the Nigerian government to proscribe the Shiite Islamic Movement of Nigeria (IMN) and to declare it officially as a terrorist organization is a catastrophic blunder.  In the first instance, the decision is illegal and unconstitutional.  It is a blatant infringement on the freedom of religion guaranteed under the Nigerian Constitution. But even more than this, it is an open invitation to another chapter of terrorism in Nigeria.  For a country already groaning under the travails of the murderous Boko Haram and the marauding Fulani herdsmen, this is certainly unacceptable and should be avoided at all costs. Shiite slaughter In 2015, a Shiite procession impeded the con...
Nigeria: Southern and Middle Belt Leaders Snub Abdusalam’s Meeting Over Invitation of Miyetti Allah
Crime, Fulani Herdsmen, News, Nigeria, Press Statement, Security, Terrorism

Nigeria: Southern and Middle Belt Leaders Snub Abdusalam’s Meeting Over Invitation of Miyetti Allah

Leaders of the Southern and Middle belt areas of Nigeria have declined the invitation extended to them by former head of state, Gen. Abdusalami Abubakar to a roundtable on national issues and security. The decision not to attend the meeting was based on the inclusion of Miyetti Allah Cattle Breeders Association of Nigeria in the round table. According to their statement, the leaders considered it an insult for their groups which represent Nigerian nationalities to be lumped with a trade organization which has also be linked to several killings across the country. Details of their response to Gen. Abdusalami's invitation are given below. " Dear General, Re: Roundtable on National Issues and Security Greetings to you from the leaders of Southern and Middle Leaders Forum. We ...
Nigeria: Government Outlawed Criminality of IMN, not Freedom of Worship – Presidency
Human Rights, News, Nigeria, Press Statement, Religion, Terrorism

Nigeria: Government Outlawed Criminality of IMN, not Freedom of Worship – Presidency

Presidency says proscription of Islamic Movement of Nigeria (IMN) has nothing to do with banning the larger numbers of peaceful and law abiding Shiites in the country from practicing their religion, instead it was to discourage wanton violence, murder and willful destruction of public and private property. The Presidency explains that contrary to the claim by IMN that it had been banned from practicing its religion, President Buhari's administration has not banned Shiites from observing their five daily prayers and going to Mecca to perform the Holy pilgrimage. Their position is blatantly false and deceptive. The IMN is deliberately changing the narrative in order to gain sympathy and divert the attention of the world from its terrorist activities, including attacking soldiers, ki...
Opinion: Arewa Consultative Forum – A People in Self Denial
Fulani Herdsmen, News, Nigeria, Religion, Security, Terrorism

Opinion: Arewa Consultative Forum – A People in Self Denial

The Arewa Consultative Forum on Wednesday kicked against what it termed "Criminalising the Fulani. This is a fallout of the atrocities committed by herdsmen in Nigeria in recent times. My first reaction to the position of the ACF is, what was their position when militants from the south south were branded " Niger Delta or Ijaw militants " or when the IPOB were branded " Ibo criminals"? Was it that everyone from those regions were part of those groups? Secondly is it not true that cattle herders in Nigeria are predominantly Fulani's? Most importantly what has been the effort of the ACF at curbing the activities of the criminals that have been identified as Fulani herdsmen? Has the reaction of the FG not always been that of making excuses about these herders being foreigners and mak...
Nigeria: Court Grants FG’s Request to Declare Shiite Terrorists
Human Rights, Judiciary, News, Nigeria, Religion, Security, Terrorism

Nigeria: Court Grants FG’s Request to Declare Shiite Terrorists

With several clashes between the Nigerian Police and members of the Islamic Movement in Nigeria (IMN), aka Shiites, that led to the death of Usman Umar, Deputy Commissioner of police, Precious Owolabi, a Channels Television reporter and many others, Justice Nkeonye Maha, of the Federal High Court in Abuja, Friday declared the Shiites a terrorist organization. With the order according to Punch, the court restrained any person or group of persons from participating in any form of activities involving or concerning the IMN under any name or platform in Nigeria. Recall that this is not the first group that has been proscribed. The Indigenous People of Biafra, IPOB, were last two years declared a terrorists organization owing to their modus-operandi. However, a copy of the ex parte a...
Nigeria: Miyetti Allah and Fulani Herdsmen Commence Vigilante Operations In Yorubaland
Crime, Fulani Herdsmen, News, Nigeria, Religion, Security

Nigeria: Miyetti Allah and Fulani Herdsmen Commence Vigilante Operations In Yorubaland

In a shocking development, a Miyetti Allah vigilante group has been spotted operating in Ondo state, Nigeria. This revelation was made by one Kayode Ajulo, a legal practitioner who narrated his encounter with one such Fulani Vigilante group on his way returning from Akure. Ajulo said that this group whom he described as terrorists were already mounting the highways with guns and openly doing "security work”. They have direct phone lines with the neighboring police stations confirming they are legit. Some of the Herdsmen Vigilante are wearing various Nigerian security outfits. This confirmed the police announcement in June that they will collaborate with Fulani Herdsmen to bring back peace in the country. Nigerians were also shocked when the Miyetti Allah announced too that they will...