ICC Note: The Nigerian Government has finally admitted that the fight between Fulani militants and Christian Farmers in the Middle Belt might be more than just a land issue. After the attack on a Catholic church on April 24, during which 18 Christians were killed including 2 priest, the government has called on President Buhari to fire his security advisors and to fully address this issue.

04/27/2018 Nigeria (All Africa) – Clashes between herders and farmers in Nigeria have left hundreds dead in the past few months. While West African regional leaders met to address the crisis, Nigerian lawmakers are calling President Buhari to task.

Eighteen people, including two priests, were killed in an attack on a church in Makurdi, the capital of Benue State, on Tuesday. The killings were blamed on herdsmen and in retaliation 11 ethnic Hausa were killed and two mosques were attacked.

Nigeria’s upper and lower houses of parliament have now called for President Muhammadu Buhari to appear before them over the continuing clashes between herdsmen and farmers and explain what the government has been doing to stop the violence. The lawmakers also called for the replacement of Nigeria’s security chiefs. Yakubu Dogara, speaker of the lower house of parliament, tweeted that the parliamentarians could not look on as citizens were being killed.

… 

For interviews with Nathan Johnson, ICC’s Regional Manager, please contact Olivia Miller, Communications Coordinator: [email protected]