A chieftain of the Christian Association of Nigeria (CAN), Rev. Testimony Onifade, has alleged that the superior firearms being used by the herdsmen that had recently launched attacks on communities in the South East and other parts of the country showed that they are being sponsored by some powerful Nigerians.
Onifade, who is a Special Assistant to the CAN Vice President, Rev. Supo Ayokunle, said that seeing many of the herdsmen carrying AK 47 and other sophisticated rifles is enough evidence of the level of their connections with powerful people.
He called on the federal government to arrest the sponsors and bring them to justice, though he was not specific about the identities of such sponsors.
Speaking in Igede Ekiti at the weekend during a Baptist Church of Nigeria special programme held in the town, Onifade said: “What the Fulani herdsmen used to carry are sticks and cutlasses, but today they paraded AK 47. Where did they get it?
“Their actions in recent time were barbaric and wicked. I can read political, tribal and ethnic colourations to the way they acted. Iwant to believe that President Muhammadu Buhari despite being a Fulani man, cannot support such madness and he shouldn’t also keep quiet.
“But if he decided to keep quiet for too long, we in the CAN we call him to order because no ethnic group has monopoly of violence.” [myad]
