Over 100 Villages under Armed Fulani Herdsmen Occupation in Plateau: Berom Youths

…Call for a ban on open grazing in the state

As the people of Kwi village in Riyom local government area of Plateau state continue to mourn the killing of Mr. and Mrs. Rwang Danladi, a teacher at BECO Comprehensive School, Kwi by Armed Fulani herdsmen on Monday, August 14, 2023, The Berom Youth Moulder Association (BYM) has called for a ban on open grazing in the state.

In an exclusive chat with Steven Kefas on Wednesday, August 16, 2023, the Leader of the group, Barrister Solomon Dalyop decried the forceful occupation of lands by armed Fulani herdsmen in the state. Dalyop stated that as of December 2022, about 102 villages have been forcefully taken over by armed herdsmen, forcing the original owners to flee to makeshift IDP camps.

Reacting to the killing of Mr. and Mrs. Rwang Danladi in Kwi village by those he described as “Known herdsmen”, Dalyop described the attack as unfortunate, ‘well planned and organized’. He said the herdsmen went into the gated school to graze in violation of subsisting order against grazing on farmlands in the state.

“At about 3 pm on Monday, some teachers of BECO (Berom Educational and Cultural Organization) Comprehensive School had gone to compile results of students to be issued on Friday, August 18.

“While the teachers were working in their offices, some known from Fass, a neighboring community about a kilometer from Kwi brought their cattle into the school compound to graze. The school is fenced and gated so it wasn’t the case of cattle straying into an open space, it was deliberate.

“When the teachers came out to confront them in a peaceful manner by asking them to take their cattle out of the school compound, they brought out arms and shot at the teachers, killing Mr. Rwang Danladi and his wife while the Vice Principal of the school, Emmanuel Ibrahim was injured.” He said.

Plateau state has been in the news albeit for a negative reason in recent times due to incessant attacks on farming communities by terrorists victims have repeatedly described as Fulani herdsmen militias.

In the last four months over 300 people have been killed and thousands displaced according to data released by The Para-Mallam Peace Foundation.

The claim by the BYM of forceful occupation of communities belonging to the natives in Riyom and other parts of the state is an angle the state government must look into with immediate alacrity and get the natives returned to their original communities if peace is to return to the Plateau anytime soon.

Insecurity: Niger Governor, Bago, canvases strengthening of cooperation in visit to CDS

Governor Mohammed Umaru Bago of Niger State has reiterated the need for the strengthening of cooperation with the Armed Forces to guarantee a peaceful environment for citizens of the state.

The governor made the call Monday during a courtesy visit to the Chief of Defence Staff, Gen. Christopher G. Musa, at the Defence Headquarters, Abuja.

A press release signed by Group Captain O. O. Ademosu in the office of the Director of Defence Information noted that the governor lamented the wave of insecurity in the state and solicited more partnerships to defeat insecurity bedeviling the area.

The release quoted the governor saying that with the largest land mass in Nigeria and surrounded by a lot of ungoverned spaces, the situation in Niger State called for security concerns.

Gov Bago reminded Gen. Musa that the state’s proximity to Abuja, the Federal Capital City, was also a reason for increased insecurity which necessitated the need for stronger cooperation.

He congratulated the CDS on his well-deserved appointment and subsequent promotion by President Bola Ahmed Tinubu.

The CDS acknowledged the support of the state government towards the military and assured the governor of the AFN’s readiness to put everything humanly possible to assist Niger State curb insecurity to attract meaningful development.

Gen. Musa stated that the AFN is fully aware of the situation on the ground, reassuring that the Armed Forces of Nigeria remain strong, committed, and steadfast in the discharge of its constitutional mandate and ready to defeat the insurgency.

After Killing and Displacing us, Fulani now Occupy our Ancestral Communities: Riyom IDPs Cry Out

Internally Displaced Persons at the Riyom IDP camp in Riyom local government area of Plateau state have cried out to the government to assist them in reclaiming their communities under the occupation of Armed Fulani Herdsmen in the area.

The IDPs from different affected communities in Riyom made this call during a humanitarian intervention visit organised by The Gideon & Funmi Para-Mallam Peace Foundation on Saturday August 12th 2023.

Some of the IDPs who said they’ve been displaced from their communities since 2014 appealed to the government to help get them back to their communities so they could live a normal life again.

The displaced persons numbering over 2,000 said the herdsmen who attacked their communities are now the occupants of some lands in their communities. They said they cannot return back to their communities because the herdsmen have built houses there.

One of the IDPs who gave her name as Amina Yakubu (not real name) told this reporter that her community, Attakar under Ganawuri ward is now under the occupation of the Armed Fulani Herdsmen that attacked the area in April 2023.

“It all started in the fourth month of this year, when the Fulanis came to our community and killed 18 people.

“My husband, Yakubu and son Emmanuel were killed during the attack and since then we were forced to leave the community because the attackers never stopped coming.

“Right now I had to do menial jobs at the mining site to cater for myself and the remaining 3 children.” Teary Amina said.

A community leader, Saleh Bayana, also corroborated Amina’s claim. He said in his community, Shonwan under Bakki district, the herdsmen have also built their houses there.

“I used to be the Mai Angwa of my community but since 2014 when we were attacked and displaced, no one has been be able to go back there. The Fulani now live there with their cattle.

“They’ve built normal houses and are living there, we dare not go near there.” He said.

It is estimated, that about 60 villages have been occupied by the Fulani herdsmen in Riyom and neighboring local government areas of Plateau state.

This is not the first time victims of these attacks have alleged occupation of their farmlands and communities by herdsmen. In 2020, survivors of herdsmen attacks in communities in Kajuru local government area of Kaduna state alleged that their communities were occupied by the herdsmen that attacked the area.

Todays revelation by the IDPs gave a new understanding of the violence on the Plateau and other areas in the Middle Belt of Nigeria. It shows that the violence are not just clashes between farmers and herders as widely reported in some sections of the media but also a well calculated attempt to dispossess the indigenous people of their ancestral lands.

The Gideon and Funmi Para-Mallam Peace Foundation is a household name in Plateau and neighbouring states affected by violence. Speaking at the occasion, an Associate Staff of the Peace Foundation, Nenfort Gonchen, who addressed the IDPs said that they are not alone, stressing the fact that God is with them and that the world is with them.

“We are here today not just to present these relief materials to you but to also tell you that you are not alone in your hour of adversity. God is with you, the Para-Mallam Peace Foundation is with you and the world is with you.

“We bring you a message of hope from Jos and we want to encourage you to remain steadfast and prayerful as we continue to trust God that you all would soon return to your respective communities.” Nenfort said.

The items delivered to the IDPs include 35 blankets, 4 bags of garri(90kg) 3 bags each of rice, beans and maize (90kg).

Reported by: Steven Kefas.

Black Thursday as Terrorists Kill Scores in Jos Communities

Batin and Yogot communities in Heipang district, Barkin Ladi local government area of Plateau state are currently in a state of mourning following Thursday’s night invasion of their communities by terrorists.

This newspaper gathered that no fewer than 21 persons including women and children were brutally murdered by the terrorists suspected to be Fulani militias.

According to an eyewitness who gave his name as Obed, the attackers came into Batin community at 1:10am on Thursday, shooting sporadically as the villagers scamper for safety.

“My house is very close to the houses that were affected. We heard the first gun shots at exactly 10 minutes past one.

“They short sporadically and killed 17 people here in Batin. They burnt some of the victims to death.

“When they were retreating, they stopped at Yogot, another community not far from the Airport and killed 4 persons.

We are currently digging the grave to bury the victims” He said.

This attack is coming at the heels of countless similar attacks in Mangu where over 300 persons have been killed between April and July 2023 according to data released by the Para-Mallam Peace Foundation.

In July, the Nigerian Army moved its operational base for Operation Safe Haven to Mangu in a bid to put an end to the attacks in the area. That effort indeed reduced the frequency of attacks in Mangu.

In the Shadow of the Crescent: The Tumultuous Terrain of Nigeria’s Security Landscape

By

Ashineko Ayinya

As Nigeria grapples with the specter of its security challenges, the appointment of Christopher Gwabin Musa, an Atyap man, as the Chief of Defense staff has sparked a maelstrom of criticism. The outcry, primarily from Northern clerics and politically motivated instigators, exposes the deep-seated ethnic and religious fissures within the nation. This article explores these tensions, the political maneuverings around them, and their implications for the nation’s security.

Since the ascension of Christopher Musa, an Atyap, to the mantle of Chief of Defense staff in Nigeria, a veritable Pandora’s Box of controversy has been unlatched. A chorus of Northern clerics, spurred on by Machiavellian politicians seeking to portray themselves as the guardians of Islam, have been vocal in their dissent. In a sweeping act of political grandstanding, they targeted the Atyap Development Association in their twilight hours of power.

President Bola Ahmed Tinubu, like Odysseus navigating the tumultuous seas, sincerely seeks to shore up the security of his nation. Appointments like Musa’s are born out of merit and necessity, a lesson learned from the previous regime’s missteps, which led to a veritable Trojan Horse situation with Muslims monopolizing all strategic security positions, resulting in the country’s descent into its darkest period of insecurity. President Tinubu’s move may be more of a strategic maneuver than a show of favoritism towards Christians. In matters of national security, religious and ethnic affiliations should be relegated to the background.

Yet, these clerics, like sirens calling out to a ship, are desperate to discredit and possibly pressure President Tinubu into retracting the appointment. They have propagated the unfounded claim that Musa, who has merely been in position for two months, is planning a purge of Hausas, beginning in Zaria. Their references to the 1992 Zangon Kataf crisis, a dark chapter in Kaduna State’s history, are one-sided and exclude the instigations that sparked the conflict. They demand the execution of General Zamani Lekwot, rekindling old tensions and risking the resurgence of conflict.

Amidst the realm of political discourse, President Bola Ahmed Tinubu’s cautionary words, foretelling the potential for ECOWAS’ martial intervention against the coupists in Niger, suffered a lamentable misinterpretation. Like whispers carried by the winds of ancient myths, some insinuated that the astute military chief, donning the mantle of ECOWAS grand commander, harbored a cunning stratagem to set ablaze the passions of conflict, starting with the noble Hausa populace ensconced in Zaria’s storied embrace. This misconception, akin to the tragic tales of old, took root in the intertwined narratives of Niger and Northern Nigeria, where any hostile act towards Niger was viewed as a direct assault upon the very essence of Northern Nigeria, igniting a chorus of collective anguish and invoking the echoes of an enduring bond.

The clerics’ selective amnesia extends to the security challenges faced under the Buhari administration. They conveniently overlook the rampant kidnappings and killings unless someone from a non-Muslim background assumes a position of authority. They remain silent on the violence, abductions, forced marriages committed by Fulani individuals against their fellow Hausas. Their selective outrage and consciousness paint a puzzling picture.

The discord surrounding Musa’s appointment is symptomatic of the complex interplay of religion, ethnicity, and politics in Nigeria’s security landscape. These complications, if left unchecked, could further destabilize the already tenuous security situation. It is therefore crucial for the government and its citizens to rise above the divisive rhetoric and work towards a harmonious and secure Nigeria.

About the Author

Ashineko Ayinya is a writer, researcher, and mathematician from Southern Kaduna. In 2018, he faced persecution from the government led by El-Rufai and narrowly escaped with his life. As a result, he is currently an internally displaced person. He sustains himself amidst the economic challenges in the country through his professional writing.

Footnotes:

• Christopher Gwabin Musa: General Christopher Gwabin Musa OFR, an Atyap man, (born 25 December 1967) is a Nigerian Army general who is the 18th Chief of Defence Staff of Nigeria. He was appointed by President Bola Tinubu on 19 June 2023.
• Zangon Kataf Crisis: The Zangon Kataf Crisis refers to a violent ethnic conflict that occurred in Zangon Kataf, Kaduna State, Nigeria, in the early 1990s. The conflict involved clashes between the Kataf ethnic group and the Hausa-Fulani Muslim settlers, driven by issues of land ownership, political representation, and religious tensions. The crisis resulted in casualties, property destruction, and mass displacement. Major General Zamani Lekwot, a key figure in the Nigerian Army, was implicated in the crisis and faced legal consequences, highlighting the complexity of managing communal tensions and the need for effective conflict resolution strategies.
• Zamani Lekwot: Zamani Lekwot (1947-date), an Atyap man, was a Nigerian military officer known for his role in peacekeeping operations, particularly during the ECOMOG intervention in Liberia and Sierra Leone. He rose to the rank of Major General in the Nigerian Army and served as the Force Commander of the Nigerian contingent in ECOMOG. However, Lekwot’s career was marred by controversy when he was implicated in the Zangon Kataf communal clashes in Nigeria and sentenced to death, later commuted to life imprisonment. Despite the controversies surrounding him, Lekwot’s contributions to peacekeeping efforts and his complex legacy remain significant.

Navigating the Murky Political Waters of Kaduna: Senator Katung’s Discretion and El-Rufai’s Legacy

By

Ashineko Ayinya

The delicate dance of politics in Nigeria unravels yet another layer as objections are raised against El-Rufai’s nomination, bringing to light the importance of Senator Sunny Masha Katung’s choices in the red chambers. This narrative draws from the biblical tale of David and Goliath, jostling between the commendable efforts of the underdog and the looming shadow of a once-powerful king. Could this be the acid test against the senator?

While the criticisms levied against El-Rufai’s nomination hold water, it behooves us to also respect the discretionary judgement of Senator Sunny Masha Katung in choosing his battles, akin to Odysseus navigating the treacherous waters of Scylla and Charybdis. The laudable work of House of Justice with Gloria Ballason, wielding her pen as a sword in her writings against the former governor, echoes the biblical story of Judith and Holofernes, an enduring testament to the power of truth and justice. Similarly, the Herculean efforts put forth by the student group are deserving of praise.

Furthermore, in line with Nigeria’s constitutional commitment to diversity, reminiscent of the harmonious symphony of the Corinthian Body, the ministerial appointment ideally should be bequeathed to a representative from Southern Kaduna.

Nonetheless, let us not forget to grant Senator Katung his proverbial ‘Pound of Flesh’. If he is deemed trustworthy enough to bear the mantle of his position, his judgement should surely be held in the same regard. As a senator, he likely possesses a trove of information beyond the reach of the general populace, especially concerning matters of such political weight. His decisions, therefore, should be perceived as informed ones.

This standpoint does not undermine the voice of the public or trivialize the significance of expressing discontent against the senator where necessary – it would at least lend him an ear to the ground. But, let us also acknowledge the Senator’s capability to steer the ship of politics as he deems fit. It is my belief that he carries the interests of his people within his heart, albeit his approach may be more of restitution than seeking retribution.

It is high time we rise, like the phoenix from the ashes, above the malevolence perpetrated by El-Rufai. By transcending the negativity of El-Rufai’s past deeds, we can focus our collective energy on areas where it truly matters.

We must conserve our strength for building and healing our communities, rather than expending it on the ghost of El-Rufai’s misdeeds. Just as the sun eventually rises, illuminating the darkest corners of the night, so too must we look forward to a brighter future, guided by the wisdom and discretion of our chosen leaders.

About the Author
Ashineko Ayinya is a writer, a researcher and a mathematician of Southern Kaduna extraction who was persecuted by El-Rufai and narrowly excaped with his life in 2018. He is presently an internally displaced person and survives the current economic travails in the country through professional writing.

The impact of Nigeria’s interference with Niger on the Middle Belt.

By Tislo Pam

Over the course of the last three days, news of impending attacks by the Nigerian military on Niger have filled the airwaves. The coup which happened on the 27th of July, 2023, has had the world speaking especially considering the players who are involved. Think pieces and articles have been written opinions have been given on the situation. However, the real cause of the issue must be discussed for what they really are.

The interference from the French who have held on to them by the apron strings since the end of colonialism. Nigeriens consider the interference of France as imposing and exploitative as their fortunes have not improved despite their proximity to the French.

In videos showing the celebrations of citizens in the streets of Niger, they expressed similar sentiments on the presence of France has been detrimental to them, chanting phrases that indicate the dislike for France.
The issue has been discussed and has hit the crescendo of concern with the Nigerian public which are largely concerned about a lot of things should this happen: the impending embarrassment that awaits the Nigerian army and its people in general as details show they have the support of the Russians; the doggedness of the new my sworn in President Bola Tinubu whose legitimacy is being challenged at the court with other contestants and the potential influx of unwanted migrants into the country particularly the Middle Belt. This concern is one that worries many from the region because in time past, numbers have been a major problem in determining power rotation and politics.

A potential migrants influx into the region does two things: heightens the conflicts that have bedevilled the region and give the upper hand to settlers of which the current settlers of Fulani descent share affinity with. In relation to the ousting of Bazoum, the Nigerian president who was deposed by the Nigerian military, the core north has shown its immense displeasure at the treatment of the man.

For a lot of core northerners in Northern Nigeria, sympathy is at an all time high for Nigeriens with whom they share ancestral affinity with. With an already porous border in the north, movement of migrants will occur unchallenged. Porous borders can mean access to unscrupulous migrants who can cause further harm, especially since Nigeria has fought against insurgency against Boko Haram and Fulani herders. With a very tumultuous history of fighting insurgents and a clear struggle to keep them at bay, this could result to full scale conflict of heightened proportions.

Migrants especially in a place like Nigeria cannot be kept out and as such will migrate down south which would require them going through the Middle Belt. What we will be dealing with essentially will be refuelled agitations of settlers in the Middle Belt as migrants with who they deem brothers, to secure political positions and challenge the place of natives.

This sympathy could become an Achilles Heel for natives who have hundred thousands of natives who have been displaced and settled elsewhere. Villages which have been razed down and lay empty, will then be reoccupied by these foreigners and a slow and gradual attempt at rewriting the history of the Middle Belt. This is a fight for existence and survival.

The Middle Belt should not ignore the impending dangers of the coup that intends to destroy what we have as a people, a region and most of all, an identity.

JUST IN: Nigerian Army Launches Fresh Operation To End Plateau Killings

In a bid to end the incessant attacks on farming communities in Plateau state, the Nigerian Army on Saturday launched a new military operation in the state, code-named Operation Hakorin Damisa IV.

Hakorin Damisa means Leopard’s teeth when translated.

The Chief of Army Staff, Major General Taoreed Lagbaja who launched the new operation in Mangu Local Government Area of the state on Saturday said the aim was specifically to end the spate of attacks and killings in Mangu local government area and other parts of the state.

Middle Belt Times had earlier reported that in the last two months, more than 300 people had been killed in Mangu local government area and other neighboring communities following a series of attacks by terrorists suspected to be herdsmen.

After addressing troops deployed to carry out Operation Hakorin Damisa, the Chief of Army Staff moved to a Pilot Primary school in the community to have a meeting with the stakeholders.

Developing story…..

Subsidy removal: Cash transfer is scam – Kaduna Gov Uba Sani

Governor Uba Sani of Kaduna state, has described the proposed cash transfer policy of the Federal Government as a scam.

Sani stated this while speaking in an interview with Arise Television’s News Night on Friday.

The governor said, “My position has always been that, at this critical time, cash transfer should not be something that we should bring up, completely. I think that cash transfer for me, in my opinion, is a scam. Completely is a scam. I can be very certain about that, because who are you transferring the money to?

“Let me give an example, go and check the current statistics. Like I said, as the Chairman, Committee of  Banking for four years in Nigeria, I oversight Central Bank, I oversight all the commercial sector of our economy for the last four years and I look at the statistics, I will be very firm on this issue and you can go and check it. 

“Let me give an example, go and check the current statistics. Like I said, as the Chairman, Committee of  Banking for four years in Nigeria, I oversight Central Bank, I oversight all the commercial sector of our economy for the last four years and I look at the statistics, I will be very firm on this issue and you can go and check it. 

“About 70 to 75 percent of the rural population in North West are financially excluded completely. You will have to go and check, these people we are talking about are important people in the society. They do not even have a bank account so who are you transferring the money to?

“Let’s try and work very hard to make sure that they are financially included, that is the most important thing and I will like to call on our development partners, the World Bank, to put more money towards bringing more people into the financial services and the vulnerable in particular.

“Let’s put more money to ensure that we open accounts for them, get them involved, if we don’t do that, no matter what we do however you do it, money will go to the wrong people, that’s the fact.”

President Bola Tinubu had earlier unveiled his administration’s plan for a monthly N8,000 transfer to 12 million of the poorest households in the country for six months, in a bid to cushion the effects of the removal of fuel subsidy.

The plan was contained in a letter read last Thursday on the floor of the House of Representatives regarding the $800 million loan request of the previous Muhammadu Buhari administration for a social safety net programme.

But days after the announcement, the Federal Government said it will review the move following the public outcry it generated among Nigerians.

Recall that following the removal of the petrol subsidy and the recent hike in petrol prices to up to N617/litre, the National Executive Council (NEC)  agreed on palliative measures for Nigerians.

NEC also considered integrity tests on state social registers, cash transfers would be done via state social registers subject to state peculiarities.

The Federal Government also initiated a six-month cash award policy for public servants.

According to the Federal Government, food items grains and fertilizers are to be distributed by state governments at the rate acquired from National Emergency Management Agency (NEMA), while states were asked to double down on energy transition plans in the transport sector.

Source: Vanguard

Ifa Council Worldwide Writes Tinubu, Wants Rights Of Traditional Religion Practitioners Protected From Likes Of Emir Of Ilorin, Others

Piqued by the recent Ilorin religious conflict and the seemingly conspiratorial silence of relevant agencies and notable individuals in power over the cause of the conflict, the International Council for Ifa Religion (ICIR) has written an open letter to President Bola Tinubu.

It called for recognition of traditionalists and respect for aspects of Nigeria’s constitution that lay emphasis on equity, equality and freedom of religion. 

ICIR recalled a recent incident in Ilorin, the Kwara State capital, in which some Muslims, with the support of the Emir of Ilorin, Ibrahim Sulu-Gambari, threatened and harassed an Osun priestess, Yeye Ajesikemi Olokun, for wanting to hold Isese festival. 

The Muslim fanatics described Ilorin as a Muslim city. 

In a letter issued and signed by the President of the Council Oluwo Solagbade Popoola on behalf of ICIR (Worldwide), on Friday, the organisation alleged that governments at all levels overlook the principles of secularism by giving more prominence and attention to Islam and Christianity in total disregard of the religious diversity which is one of the unique feature of the Nigerian State.

The letter signed by Oluwo Solagbade Popoola, President of ICIR (Worldwide), and titled: ‘Open Letter To His Excellency Asiwaju Bola Hammed Tinubu GCFR, President And Commander-In-Chief, Federal Republic Of Nigeria’ reads in part: “Your Excellency, as you gradually settle down for the business of leading Nigeria to political, social and economic stability, ICIR feels it very pertinent to draw your attention to one of the salient and very important issues in the Nigeria’s constitution which has often been flagrantly and carelessly ignored. This issue centres on the principles of secularism as enshrined in several provisions of the 1999 Constitution, as amended.

“ICIR respectfully wishes to remind you of Section 10 of the Constitution of Nigeria which unequivocally states that ‘The Government of the Federation or of a State shall not adopt any religion as a State Religion.’ This provision prohibits the establishment of a state religion and affirms the secular nature of the Nigerian state.

“Your Excellency is invited to also note Section 38 of the constitution which clearly states that every individual has the right to freedom of thought, conscience, and religion. This includes the freedom to manifest and practice any religion or belief of one’s choice, either individually or in a community, subject to certain limitations to protect public safety, order, morality, or the rights of others.

“Bearing the above in mind, it may interest Your Excellency to know that traditional religion as well as its practitioners have continued to suffer persecutions and harassment in the hands of the two dorminant religions in Nigeria which are Islam and Christianity. 

“Successive administrations of government across all tiers have also continued to discriminate to a large extent against traditional religions. The case of intimidation and harassment of a practitioner of traditional religion by the royal envoy of the Emir of Ilorin is a recent and fresh example. Like messengers of death, some muslims leaders had besieged the home of an Osun Priestess and threatened her never to practice her faith within specified areas of Ilorin.

“Up till this moment, the Nigerian Police and the Kwara State Government are yet to take any reasonable action that could deter such illegality. Yet Section 42 of the Nigeria’s constitution prohibits discrimination based on religion and states that no Nigerian can be discriminated against on the basis of their religion or belief. This provision also emphasizes the equality of all citizens irrespective of their religious affiliation.

“Your Excellency, it is arguable that the Federal Government and most States seem to be deliberate in their disregard to the aspect of Section 10 of the said constitution which requires them to maintain neutrality regarding religious matters: Section 10 prohibits the adoption of any religion as a state religion. 

“Therefore, for declaring certain parts of Ilorin a muslim area, those Ilorin muslim leaders ought to have been decisively dealt with. Section 10 explicitly declares that government should not favor or endorse any particular religion. Rather, government is expected under the constitution to treat all religions equally and respect the religious diversity of its citizens.

“Another critical issue is that Federal and State Governments, in disregard to the Constitution, set aside certain days as public holidays for christians and muslims to celebrate their special festivals such as Christmas, Easter, Good Friday, Eid al-Fitr, Ramadan Eid al-Adha, Mawlid etc. Granting holidays to two religions, out of many, in a religiously diversified nation like Nigeria, is a contradiction to the secular character of Nigeria as established and recognised by our constitution.

“The dominance of Islam and Christianity in a secular State like Nigeria could be said to have been significantly influenced by the recognition given to them, above others, by Government. Why do both religions have Welfare and Pilgrimage Boards, funded from our common wealth, while other religions are held down in total surpression? 

“The dominance of Islam and Christianity notwithstanding, traditional religions hold significance for many Nigerians. Therefore, it is very important to also factor our welfare along that of others so as to foster inclusiveness and ensure harmonious relationship.”

Therefore, the ICIR asked Tinubu to among other requests “grant due recognition to traditional religion alongside dominant ones in Nigeria; grant all traditional religions August 20 as Public Holiday for the entire practitioners of the religions in Nigeria to observe as a day to worship God and also venerate their ancestors and establish a legal framework that recognizes and protects the rights of individuals to practice traditional religions.”

According to ICIR, “this should also protect sacred sites and access to such places” and “allow religious ceremonies and rituals, and ensure that traditional religious practitioners are not subjected to discrimination or persecution”. 

It added that “Nigeria Police and other Security Agencies should be authorized to arrest and prosecute anyone who tries to harass or intimidate any individual with the view preventing them from free exercise of their freedom of religion or right to affirm their individual belief whether in public or in private”.

ICIR also asked President Tinubu to “establish Welfare Board for practitioners of traditional religions in Nigeria in order to, among other things, ensure they have due access to heritage facilities and sites that have significant link with their faith and belief system” and “include us in interfaith dialogue and other relevant platforms when formulating policies or making decisions in order to ensure that our perspectives are also taken into account”.

“Finally, we urge you to consider the need to go deep into the origin of the Nigeria’s current socio-economic situation and tackle the problems once and for all thereby making way for a new Nigeria, the Nigeria of everybody’s dream,” it added.

Source: Saharareporters