A United Kingdom Benue-based group, the Mzough U Tiv UK
(MUTUK), on Monday, organised a peaceful protest to draw the attention
of the British Prime Minister to the barbaric killings in Benue and
other states in Nigeria by what it described as ‘the Fulani terror group
who have killed more Nigerians than the Boko Haram.
MUTUK’s peaceful protest, which also enjoyed the solidarity of
Nigerians in the Diaspora who came out in large number to support the
struggle, however, did not get the attention of the Nigerian High
Commission in the European country, as none of the officials came to
receive the protesters for more than one hour.
The Daily Sun gathered that at a point, MUTUK Vice President and
Convener of the protest, Dr. Kohol Iornem, had to approach the High
Commission after waiting for more than one hour without any attention
given to them.
“It is not surprising that the Nigerian High Commissioner nor any of
its staff came out to address the gathering even after protesters had
gathered for over one hour. Dr Kohol Shadrach Iornem, the Vice President
of MUTUK who was the convener of the protest, approached the security
staff at the Business Section of the High Commission and was advised to
go back to the main entrance,” Publicity Secretary of MUTUK, Salome
Sulleyol Biam, said.
Explaining further in a statement, Biam continued, “Even after going
back and forth repeatedly, no member of staff came out. Dr. Iornem urged
the protesters to move down to the Business Unit of the Nigeria High
Commission. At this point, the Nigeria Embassy called the police for the
Nigerian protesters.
“When the police arrived, Dr. Iornem explained to the police that
protesters were here to submit a copy of the petition to Ambassador but
they have not come out to address or receive the petition.
“He stated that courtesy demanded that a member of staff from the
High Commission addressed the gathering and received the petition. It
was at this point that the Head of Chancery, Dr. Niyi Ojo, came out to
speak to the protesters on behalf of the High Commissioner.”
Iornem, in his speech to President Muhamadu Buhari, through the
Ambassador, stated that the protest became necessary based on the
current problems the Benue people and other Nigerians were facing in
Nigeria in the hands of the Fulani herdsmen, “who have continued to
massacre our children, brothers, sisters, mothers and fathers.
“We are here because our people back at home have done everything
within the law to bring an end to this ethnic cleansing. Our people back
at home in Benue State have protested, they have held press
conferences, they held meetings with community leaders to discuss the
solution to these attacks, they have passed the anti-open grazing bill.
Iornem who said the Benue leaders had even visited President
Muhammadu Buhari to plead with him to take decisive actions but the
killing have continued unabated maintained that it was for that reason
that MUTUK had decided to stage the peaceful protest to draw the
attention of the international community to the plight of its people.
“It is sad that immediately after their visit, the Fulani herdsmen
terror group killed at least 6 persons in the same Guma and Logo Local
Governments where over 70 people were initially massacred and given
state burial.
“We believe the international community do not know about the current
genocide in Nigeria and that is why there has been no reaction from
them. We are here today to let the British Government know about this
terror group who have killed more Nigerians than the Boko Haram,” he
said.
Responding after receiving a copy of the MUTUK’s petition to the High
Commission, Head of Chancery, Dr. Niyi Ojo, promised that he would pass
the petition across to the Nigerian Government.
It was gathered that Iornem, thereafter, led some MUTUK executives to
deliver a copy of the petition to the Office of the British Prime
Minister at 10, Downing Street, in London.