The Miyetti Allah Cattle Breeders Association of Nigeria (MACBAN), has called on the National Human Rights Commission to investigate the killing of 27 pastoralists in an airstrike in Doma local government area of Nasarawa State.
The association’s National Public Relations Officer, Muhammad Abdullahi, made the call in an issued statement on Friday, in Abuja.
Recall that the Nasarawa State, Police Command, on Thursday confirmed the alleged killing of 27 pastoralists in an airstrike in Doma local government area of the State
The MACBAN spokesperson, who said that the killings constitute War crime, emphasised the need for the Human Rights Commission to constitute a panel of inquiry to find out on whose authority the aircraft was used and punish the culprits.
MACBAN recalls that this is the third time in one year that the unknown aircraft had been involved in bombing of pastoralists and livestock in Nasarawa, Benue and Taraba States. The Pastoralists went to Makurdi earlier in the day to retrieve their 1,250 livestock, which had earlier been impounded by the Benue State livestock guards, after paying a fine of N29 million.
The trucks carrying the livestock were closely monitored, and waited upon until it reached its destination before unleashing the armed drone on the pastoralists who were waiting to collect their livestock.
These pastoralists are bona fide Nigerians, and have rights like every other citizen; and therefore, must be protected under the law, he said.
