POLICE HAVE CONFIRMED THE ALLEGED DEATH OF 27 PASTORALISTS IN A NASARAWA AIRSTRIKE.

The Nasarawa State Police Command has confirmed the alleged killing of 27 pastoralists in a ‘airstrike’ in the state’s Doma Local Government Area.
On Thursday in Lafia, DSP Ramhan Nansel, the Command’s Public Relations Officer (PPRO), confirmed the development and casualty figure to the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN).

According to Nansel, preliminary investigation revealed that the pastoralists traveled to Benue on Tuesday to pay fines for the release of cattle impounded by the Benue Livestock Guards while enforcing the State’s Anti-Open Grazing and Ranching Law.

“Something like a drone or an aircraft hovered in the air and shelled them while they were loading some of the cows into vehicles on Tuesday night in Kwatiri village, a border community between Benue and Nasarawa,” he said.

According to Nansel, the Commissioner of Police, Maiyaki Mohammed-Baba, visited the scene of the incident and attended the burial of the deceased alongside the State Deputy Governor, Dr. Emmanuel Akabe, and some traditional rulers.

He stated that an investigation was underway to identify those responsible for the act, and that the command had deployed police officers to the area to prevent a breakdown in law and order.

Gov. Abdullahi Sule has since condemned the heinous act, saying he was in contact with his Benue counterpart about it while security agencies conducted their investigations.

He urged people to remain calm and not take the law into their own hands.

The Miyetti Allah Cattle Breeders Association of Nigeria (MACBAN) also condemned the alleged killing and demanded a thorough investigation to identify those responsible.

According to MACBAN’s National Public Relations Officer, Muhammad Nura, in a statement made available to NAN, “this is the third time we are experiencing such happenings.”

He claimed that, in addition to the victims, livestock were killed in the attack.

“MACBAN describes the action as not only condemnable, but also a war crime under international law.”

the Geneva Convention, which prohibits the indiscriminate slaughter of livestock.

“We call on the authorities to investigate this terror, punish the perpetrators, and ensure that such incidents do not occur again,” the Nura said.

(NAN)