The Human Rights Writers Association of Nigeria, HURIWA has urged the Federal Government to declare the Miyetti Allah Cattle Breeders Association and other factions attached to it as a terrorist group.
The Association stated this following the arrest of the Popular Yoruba activist, Sunday Igboho, by the International Criminal Police Organisation in Cotonou, Benin Republic.
The group accused the government of President Muhammadu Buhari of waging war against self-determination agitators from Southern Nigeria.
HURIWA said the selective arrests of mainly Southern Nigerian born agitators whilst pampering and petting terrorists is at variance to Chapter 4. Section 42 of the Nigerian Constitution, which represents the right to freedom from discrimination.
The group made it known via a statement signed by its National Coordinator, Comrade Emmanuel Onwubiko and Zainab Yusuf, its National Secretary.
“President Muhammadu Buhari administration has clearly demonstrated to the World that it is only out to stop crusaders in Southern Nigeria who have effectively activated mechanisms for checking and slowing down the incessant violence and terror attacks against communities all over Southern Nigeria by armed Fulani militia supported by Miyetti Allah Cattle Breeders Association.
“The administration of Buhari has by fiercely going after Igboho and Nnamdi Kanu and then maintaining unpatriotic and active conspiratorial silence on the dastardly terrorist activities of Buhari’s kinsmen, the armed Fulani attackers and kidnappers including those who shot down a military jet in Zamfara State, together with its refusal to ease out the Minister of communications and digital economy Sheikh Ibrahim Pantami, shown that it supports the activities of Fulani militants masquerading as Fulani herdsmen,” HURIWA said.
HURIWA said by the arrest of Igboho, President Buhari has shown his support for the agenda of Miyetti Allah, a group that recently accused the South West Governors of providing refuge for Sunday Igboho even when the gentleman has committed no crime.
HURIWA maintained that the arrest of Igboho is illegal and unconstitutional judging by the fact that his being declared a wanted person in the first instance was a nullity.
The rights group pointed out that Igboho was only staying away for his safety to avoid being killed by government security agencies.
“We think Mr. Sunday Igboho is a prisoner of conscience just like Mazi Nnamdi Kanu who was illegally abducted in Kenya and repatriated to Nigeria,” HURIWA said.
“Nigerians should ask the President to declare Miyetti Allah Cattle Breeders Association and the armed Fulani attackers bombarding all parts of Nigeria as terrorist groups,” HURIWA said, adding that failure of the President to do immediately will clearly indicate that he(Buhari) is supporting the agenda of these Fulani terrorists to destabilise Nigeria.
