Declare herdsmen terrorists, Soyinka tells Buhari

*Demands military offensive against Fulani militias
*As herders kill 25 in Kogi, Plateau death toll hits 70
From Yekini Jimoh (Lokoja) and Pwanagba Agabus (Jos)
It was vintage Nobel laureate, Prof. Wole Soyinka, as he bared his mind on burning national issues, which he adjudged as not frontally addressed by President Muhmmadu Buhari.
Soyinka, who had recently accused Buhari of being a�?in a trancea�?, in his reaction to Buharia��s handling of topical matters, on Thursday, asked him to wake up and declare the killer herdsmen as terrorists.
He lamented that the President seemed to be aloof as herdsmen go about without any check, killing and maiming innocent Nigerians in different parts of the country.
The Nobel Laureate spoke on Thursday in Lagos where he delivered a keynote speech at the a�?Ripples Nigeria Dialoguea�?, a yearly forum designed to widen the conversation on the problems facing the country.
A seemingly angry Soyinka declared that it was high time the Federal Government sternly warned the marauding herdsmen against the carnage and utter destruction they inflict on communities largely in Benue State, and other parts of the country.
Soyinka said: a�?Wea��re speaking of governance, will and responsibility, the readiness to respond with massive punitive action when the fundamental security of a people is violated.
a�?Wea��re speaking here of a president showing up at the arena of human desecration, not to shed any anxious tears, but to read the Riot Act and give an order, right on the scene of violationa�?.
The literal giant insisted that Buhari must a�?order his forces into action against the arrogant, blood-thirsty renegades of society who wallow in the blood of others, having being assured one way or the other, of a cloak of impunity.
a�?Wea��re speaking of the courage to decree such monsters terrorists and enemies of humanity with the same dispatch as the declaration of far less violent, far less destabilising movements, albeit disru Mr. Peter Obi, human rights activist, Dr. Abiola Akiyode-Afolabi, and former presidential spokesman, Dr. Reuben Abati.
*Aftermath of Gov Bello’s invitation, herders kill 25 in Kogi
Meanwhile, details of the Wednesday attacks launched by Fulani herdsmen in military uniforms have emerged.
The herders had since Wednesday invaded Oganenigu community in Dekina and Abejukolo in Omala Local Government Area of Kogiishment and they come and decree handing. No, theya��re not going to hang anybody.
a�?They just want an instrument to silence people. It is ironic of course and I should call Nigeriana��s to resist this lawa�?.
The event organized by ace journalist. Sam Ibemere, was attended by renowned public affairs analyst and economist, Dr. Pat Utomi, former governor of Anambra State, Mr. Peter Obi, human rights activist, Dr. Abiola Akiyode-Afolabi, and former presidential spokesman, Dr. Reuben Abati.
*Aftermath of Gov Bello’s invitation, herders kill 25 in Kogi
Meanwhile, details of the Wednesday attacks launched by Fulani herdsmen in military uniforms have emerged.
The herders had since Wednesday invaded Oganenigu community in Dekina and Abejukolo in Omala Local Government Area of Kogi State, and killed 25 people.
The latest attack in Kogi came two years after a similar onslaught when sectarian violence led to the death of four Fulani men and an unspecified number of their animals.
The herdsmen were said to be fleeing from Benue State where they were being overwhelmed.
An indigene said the latest attack may be to avenge the events of 2016.
The AUTHORITY learnt that the herdsmen came in boats with firearms, such as AK-47, cutlasses and other dangerous weapons shot, killed, and razed houses in the communities.
An eyewitness told journalists in Lokoja, that armed herdsmen in Army uniforms and heavily armed with AK-47, invaded Oganenigu community on Wednesday.
He said that the militias in their hundreds burnt 20 houses and allegedly slaughtered people and shot those who tried to escape into the bush.
It was also gathered that four members of family of a serving police officer were slaughtered by the herdsmen.
Another community, in Dekina council, Iyale, was also attacked by the herdsmen. It was gathered that two person were killed during the invasion.
In Omala, the herdsmen invaded Abejukolo community and killed three persons, including one Joshua Angulu.
The Deputy Commissioner of Police, Mr. Monday Bala, told newsmen on Thursday that the Police cannot give the number of people killed in the attacks.
He said that the Commissioner of Police, Aliyu Janga, had drafted Mobile Policemen, Anti-Terrorism Squad and military personnel to the affected communities to restore law and order.
*Plateau Attacks: Death toll hits 70 in one week
A week after the official launch of a five-year road map for peace strategy in Plateau State by President Buhari, the number of residents killed by herdsmen has risen to 70 and scores of others injured.
THE AUTHORITY learnt yesterday that thousands have been displaced and property worth billions destroyed in the affected communities within the week.
The attacks started less than 24 hours before the President’s visit to the state and continued after he returned to Abuja to continue his tour of the troubled states.
The communities destroyed in Daffo District of Bokkos Local Government Area are Nghakudung, Morok, Hottom, Wareng and Ganda.
Over 30 persons were said to have been killed in the areas and several others still missing. In Bassa Local Government Area, about 40 persons have lost their lives in Nzharuvo, Dundu and Rafiki/Dong communities.
The latest victims were three soldiers and two Mobile Police officers serving with a�?Operation Safe Havena�?, also known as the Special Task Force (STF). They were among the seven killed on Wednesday at a border community between Bassa and Jos South Local Government.
The Police spokesperson, Mathias Tyopev Terna, confirmed most of the attacks, but did not give the casualty figures
THE AUTHORITY also gathered that Governor Simon Lalong has summoned stakeholders comprising of the Fulani community, the Irigwe people in Miango Bassa and Daffo people in Bokkos, for a crucial security meeting with a view to finding lasting solution to the killings.