Family of 4 slain Fulani herders cry out, petition IG over threat

The family of four slain Fulani herdsmen, have petitioned the Deputy Inspector General of Police, over imminent threat to life by the suspects, and demanding justice over the alleged unjust killing of their family members. The alleged murder of the four persons occurred in August 2016, when an outrageous number of people under the guise […]

The family of four slain Fulani herdsmen, have petitioned the Deputy Inspector General of Police, over imminent threat to life by the suspects, and demanding justice over the alleged unjust killing of their family members.

The alleged murder of the four persons occurred in August 2016, when an outrageous number of people under the guise of Fulani vigilantes invaded Kukuri village and rustled over 300 cows and 100 sheep of the deceased to an unknown destination. They abducted the four persons now late, namely Alhaji Sani, Sani  Birki, Usman Yellow and Dahiru Sani ,who were brutally macheted and later died in cold blood in the bush.

The head of the family Suleiman Rabiu who addressed journalists in Keffi over the brutality, said that apart from the killing of the above mentioned four, they are currently under threat to be silent over the matter or face similar treatment from the suspects, who were earlier arrested but released by the police in Nasarawa state.

Narrating his story Rabiu, said when they reported the case at the Panda police division, the Police swung into action and they arrested the suspected murderers and rescued about 26 of the cows from one Alhaji Shukha (Ciroman  Fulanin Gitata).

He said that it was at this instance that the suspects whose prime leader is Alhaji Shukha, and others including Alhaji Tapul, Aminu, Alhaji Rigga Ja’e Angaza, Usman Temo popularly known as Wakili Temo, Chairman Gidado and seven others, began to threaten that should he (Suleiman Rabiu) continue to refer to the issue of the killings of the four, they will ensure that the families of the victims are completely wiped out of existence.

He explained that some of the leaders of  the Miyetti  Allah Cattle Breeders Association of Nigeria(MACBAN)and the sister organization Miyetti  Allah Kautal Hore,  a Fulani socio cultural group ,waded  in and sought the release of those suspected to have had a hand in the killings of the  four victims.

Rabiu said he is from Zamfara state and the father to the deceased, and he got informed of the gruesome murder and the rustling of the cows of the victims, but what amazed him was the fact that the act was carried out by the Fulani vigilante group under the leadership of Miyetti Allah, who allege that the victims are suspected kidnapers and cow rustler’s.

“We decided to address journalists over the whole issue and make it public, because some prominent individuals have waded into the matter, threatening us to either drop the case or lose our lives. All we are demanding is justice from the authorities,” he added.

These allegations and the implication behind the murder, therefore, prompted a petition to the Deputy Inspector General Of Police Force criminal investigation and intelligence department (FEIID) Abuja, seeking redress to the threat and justice over the unjust murder of their family members as filed by Barr. Haruna Ilyas and associates (Favor Chambers) of Keffi.

Their petition reads, “It is our clients brief that sometime  in August 2016 in the morning  the underlisted accused persons Alhaji Shukha,  Alhaji Tapul, Aminu, Alhaji Rigga Ja’e Angaza, Usman Temo popularly known as Wakili Temo, Chairman Gidado and seven others, well-armed with guns and  machetes  invaded the houses of the named deceased victims, forcefully bundled them to a thick forest without prior provocation, after which they also carted away their cows and sheep numbering 300 cows and 100 sheep and ram, respectively to an unknown destination and shared  it among themselves.”

The petition further stated that upon informing the police of the unlawful and unjustifiable cruelty of the accused persons to Panda police division, the police arrested some of the accused and after a brief investigation, transferred the case to Keffi Area Command where after investigation 26 cows were recovered in the possession of Alhaji Shukha ( Ciroman Fulani Gitata) while other eleven cows were recovered from one Audu Timba, a butcher , who had  slaughtered  three out of the eleven.”

It was at this point that the case was later transferred to the State criminal Investigation Department (SCID) Lafia.

According to the solicitors through their petition, “No serious investigation was carried out as the accused persons are free on the pretext  that some traditional rulers, politicians and other member of the Fulani association have intervened  in the matter but that was without observing the following (a) no consent of the deceased families was sought (b) properties of the victims carted away by the deceased were returned to the families (c) there was no provision of any kind to compensate for the lives of the deceased unlawfully wasted without justification by the accused persons.”

On his part, the only remaining son of Suleiman, Ibrahim told newsmen that after the brutal murder of his siblings, Fulani leaders in Nasarawa summoned a meeting at the instance of the state commissioner of police to resolve the matter. The meeting resolved to give the deceased family the sum of N3 million as compensation and return the recovered cattle.

Ibrahim said that out of the N3 million only N1.5 million was given them with a  pledge  to balance the remaining N1.5 which is  yet to  be received ,adding that when they raise the issues of prosecution of the suspects they came under imminent danger because the suspects were shielded by some powerful individuals in the state.

When contacted the Nasarawa state chairman Miyetti  Allah Cattle Breeders Association, (MACBAN) Alhaji Muhammed Hussaini, refuted the claims by the deceased families of the involvement of association, saying that their group MACBAN was invited a week after the incident happened,  and has no  connection with  the vigilante group that carried out the killings.

According to him, the so-called vigilante group was only parading themselves as an authorized Fulani vigilant group, as they are without the permission or under the umbrella of the Miyetti Allah Cattle Breeders.

He said, “We as an association got involved in the matter based on the fact that as Fulani leaders, if something happens to one of us it is natural for us to wade into the matter and find solution to it.  What we did was to ensure the rescue of the rustled cows and seek the support of all concerned Fulani members, towards the welfare of the deceased children and wives left behind”, he said.

Hussaini added that after deliberation over the matter some Fulani members tasked themselves in demonstration of their solidarity and concern, and the sum of N1.5 million was raised and given to the deceased families which did not meet an earlier budget of N3 million agreed upon.

He further disclosed that by the findings of their association they gathered that the act was a joint operation between some of the Fulani in Panda axis, in collaboration with some Fulani in Kwoi in Southern Kaduna state.

When contacted over of the matter, state Commissioner of Police, Abubakar Sadiq Bello, confirmed the incident, but said he will not comment on the case as the force headquarters has already taken over the matter.

The Force Public Relations Officer, Deputy Commissioner of Police, Don Awunah, also confirmed the petition and the taking over of the case by the force headquarters, adding that the matter is under investigation and when concluded the suspects would be prosecuted.

Efforts to get the position of Miyetti Allah Kautal Hore proved abortive, as the phone number was not going through and there was no response to the text message sent.