Buhari Not Involved In Fulani Herdsmen Crisis – Presidency Explains

The Presidency has exonerated President Muhammadu Buhari from the herdsmen crisis rocking many parts of the country.

Speaking on Channels Television’s ‘Sunrise Daily’ programme on Monday, Presidential Spokesman, Garba Shehu, said the President should not be linked to the criminal activities of killer herdsmen.

He added that President Buhari is not in support of the activities of the criminal herdsmen, noting that any killer herdsmen caught would be made to face the law.

Shehu noted that the President is deeply concerned with the ongoing unrest in the country, adding that he is fully conscious of the fact that it is the responsibility of his government to secure lives and properties and stop the ongoing crisis.

He said: “The president is more than concerned of the ongoing situation, he is fully conscious of the fact that it is the responsibility of his government to work with the whole Nigerians to secure lives and stop the ongoing crisis whether they are kidnapping or the new line of ethnic violence. He condemns it and he does not support it.

“The fact now is having spoken against it, it follows that all security agencies must take their line of action from the president’s remark and do that which is necessary which is to stop the escalation of the violent attacks being witnessed in some parts of the country and ensure that it does not go beyond where it has been recorded.

“It is for community leaders – local, traditional, and elected – to work with the President.

“The country’s military, as we speak, is overstretched because they are active in at least 34 of the 36 states of the federation, including the FCT.

“The Air Force, the police, they are recruiting, day and night; people are being trained in special operations and are being sent to the forest.”

Recall that the Presidency said that President Buhari had vowed that his government will not allow any ethnic or religious violence.

Shehu stated this in a statement on Sunday titled “President Buhari condemns reported cases of ethnic violence in the country.”

The statement read, “President Muhammadu Buhari has vowed that his government will protect all religious and ethnic groups, whether majority or minority in line with its responsibility under the constitution.”

“In a reaction to reports of breakout of violence in some parts of the country by some ethnic and sectional groups, President Buhari warned that the government will not allow any ethnic or religious group to stoke up hatred and violence against other groups.”

“The President condemned such violence and gave assurance that his government will act decisively to stop the spread of any such violence.”

“He appealed to religious and traditional leaders as well governors and other elected leaders across the country to join hands with the Federal Government to ensure that communities in their domain are not splintered along ethnic and other primordial lines.”