By Karls Tsokar

Abuja — A group of Nigerians in the Diaspora have
urged President Muhammadu Buhari to end
criminal killings in the country.The group - Tiv
Diaspora Forum in a statement yesterday by Prof.
Joseph Zume and three others on behalf of the
forum said they are worried about the silence of the
President on the incessant unprovoked attacks by
herdsmen on farming communities in Benue,
Taraba and Nasarawa states.

They also condemned an attack on a market in Zaki
Biam."Unfortunately, Mr. President's response
failed to equally acknowledge and condemn the
attacks in the state, even after a public
demonstration by Tiv youths in Abuja and Makurdi.
"This choice to respond to the activities of a local
criminal gang but not to the killings by herdsmen
appears to accuse them as the cause of the
problem in Benue, despite media reports about
similar attacks in other states," the statement said.
They said the frequency and sophistication of these
violent crimes perpetrated by herdsmen if not
effectively tackled could result to proliferation of
arms among communities.


The group further urged the President to probe the
role of Miyetti Allah Cattle Breeders Association of
Nigeria (MACBAN) in the killings.They said: "As a
matter of national security, President Buhari should
disarm the criminal herdsmen and their
accomplices. In the short term, deploy appropriate
and adequate security personnel to affected
communities with clear mandate to protect the
people in these areas.
"There should also be provision for financial
compensation to victims of the attacks. As there are
thousands of orphans and widows in affected
communities whose future have become uncertain
because their providers have been killed and their
means of livelihood affected."