Chris
Ngige, Minister of Labour and Employment, has said that President Muhammadu
Buhari is not behind herdsmen killings as claimed by some people in the country.
The minister speaking
to newsmen during his visit to Awka over the weekend described the allegation
as false and plans by some persons to instigate the citizenry against the
President.
Ngige reiterated that
people could fabricate stories to heat up the polity as election year draws
closer.
According to him, “It
is misinformation to say that the President was behind herdsmen killings in the
country. Such opinions are intended to instigate the citizenry against the
President.
“However, Nigeria is a
secular state where no one can force any religion on any person.
“Such misinformation
are practical evidence of rumours and the All Progressives Congress is not
perturbed because it knows it is an election year when anything can happen.
“Some misguided
elements who are miscreants; some of them pose as herdsmen and they go and do
cattle rustling, shooting the owners of cattle and take their cattle away.
“Buhari is not silent
over the killings across the country by Fulani herdsmen, rather he has
condemned it.
“The President noted that in addition to the
economic implications of the activities of herdsmen, some people were fighters
who had access to arms and ammunition; trained in Libya as Gaddaffi stockpiled
arms and ammunition over the years and when he was killed, his arms were
dispersed across West Africa comprising Nigeria, Mali, Niger, Chad and some
others that have prevalence of violence and random killings.”
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