Women,Youth,Peace
and Security Network( WYPS-N) coalition of woman and youths across tribal
and religious divides,has threatened to protest across Nigeria if the spate
of Fulani Killings continue.
The group made its position known on Friday at a
brief conference in Abuja.
Mr Andy
Iji, the Spoke person of WYPS-N ,said that it was imperative for the youth and
women group to speak up as they are the most vulnerable in times of security
challenges.
“The continuesd
killings of innocent citizens in cold blood across Nigeria has given us
sleepless nights as a body whose duty is to speak on behalf of women and
youths on issues concerning peace and security.
“Few weeks ago we
saw how over 70 dead bodies were driven round Makurdi town as if it was a
carnival, and there are reports of other killings across the country since
then.
“That massacre
was preceded by reports of killings in Kaduna, Taraba, Delta, Ondo, Rivers and
many other places.
“There is
hardly a day without an attack on Nigerians, and women and children are mainly
the victims.
“We hereby give
four weeks to the Federal Government to take proactive measures towards a
lasting solution to this menace or we shall mobilised peaceful mass
protest of women and youths across Nigeria,””he said.
Iji
argued that since those killing and maiming Nigerians were not ‘ghost’,
security agents should be able to bring them to book.
He
noted that the incidences of herdsmen and farmers clashes across Nigeria
was alien as both parties had lived together peacefully in the past years.
He
therefore urged the Federal Government to do everything possible to
unravel the mystery behind this unabated killings of Nigerians,especially rural
dwellers.
“We
have heard some of our security agents saying that the killers are not
the Nigerian herdsmen.
“Yes that is what
we want to believe, because we love the Nigerian Fulani herdsmen and we
patronize their businesses and respect them.
“However, what is
the federal government doing to protect us from this external aggression and
invasion of our communities by these killers from foreign land .
“We are
profoundly disappointed with the inability of the government to protect lives
and properties and we are sad and sorrowful,””he said.
The
group therefore urged the police and other government owned security agencies
to be proactive instead of reactionary to security threats and also make
efforts to arrest and prosecute the killers openly and promptly.
Representative
of the Association of Youths and Students Peace Ambassadors in
Nigeria, and that of other women and youth bodies were also present at the
event, and they alligned themselves with the position of WYPS-N