Nobel Laureate Professor Wole Soyinka has called on President Muhammadu Buhari to address the nation on the issues of insecurity and killings ongoing in Nigeria mostly between herdsmen and farmers.
Soyinka, speaking with BBC News Pidgin in Nigeria, said he was waiting for the problem (ie the killing and kidnapping, clashes between herdsmen and farmer) to be handled by the Federal Government, just as he warned that if the President dose not do so Nigerians are all going to become, if not already, slaves in their own land which he said ‘is intolerable and unacceptable.’
Nobel Laureate called on Buhari to admit that he is a patron of cattle rearers association, a rancher, and it’s a business he Buhari engages in.
#EndSARS: Soyinka condemns killing of protesters by soldiers
“Yes, I (the president) am a patron of cattle rearers association, I’m a rancher, and it’s a business I engage in on business terms. I do not rape, torture or displace people to occupy their land. Soyinka saidPrsident Buhari should say
He want on to say that Buhari should say: “I warn everyone in the food commodity chain, and cattle rearers that anyone seen illegally occupying or trespassing other people’s property should be prosecuted and the army as well as other security forces to back efforts of citizens to flush them out.”
“I do not run my business by killing people. I do not run my business by raping, displacing, torturing and I don’t run my business by occupying land that does not belong to me.
“Whatever comes to you for illegal occupation or for trespassing in other people’s property is your business.
“And I am ordering the Army, I am ordering all the security forces to back citizens’ efforts in flushing you people out.
“I expect nothing less even at this stage.
“This is the language I expect from President Buhari and as long as that language does not come, I must consider him quite complacent with what is going on because the buck stops at his desk.”
In another development the Kaduna State Government has announced the killings of 19 persons by suspected bandits in Birnin Gwari and Kajuru local government areas of the state on Saturday.
Mr Samuel Aruwan, the Commissioner of Internal Security and Home Affairs, disclosed this in a statement issued to newsmen, on Sunday, in Kaduna.
“The citizens were killed by bandits at Kutemeshi village in Birnin Gwari and Kujeni village in Kajuru, where several others were left with bullet wounds. Some shops were also looted with valuable items carted away,” he added.
He also disclosed that some of the injured persons had been moved to a neighboring state closer to Kutemeshi, for urgent medical attention, while others were transported to the Orthopaedic hospital in Kaduna.
” So far, the corpses of 14 victims have been recovered from Kutemeshi.
“The Kaduna State Government will provide updates on any emerging developments.
“In Kujeni village of Kajuru LGA, the attackers burnt several houses, stores with foodstuff, warehouses loaded with building materials and a Church,” Aruwan said.
The Commissioner said Gov. Nasir El-Rufai, who had been monitoring the security situation at the locations, had expressed sadness over the attacks.
The Governor condoled relatives that lost their loved ones, offered prayers for the repose of their souls and speedy recovery for the injured, while directing the State Emergency Management Agency to urgently provide relief materials to the affected communities.
“The government and security agencies are following up on a reported attack around Kikwari village of Kajuru LGA, and will also provide an update as soon as feedback is received,”Aruwan said.
