Kogi: Fulani group petitions NHRC over alleged killing of members
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The Association of Matasan Fulani of Nigeria (AMFON), on Tuesday, approached the National Human Rights Commission (NHRC), asking it to investigate the alleged attack and killing of its members, Vanguard reports.
Vanguard said that AMFON, in a petition it submitted at the headquarters of the Commission, in Abuja, alleged that three of its members’ children were murdered in cold blood at Elaye, Kaba, in Kogi state.
In the petition dated July 9 and addressed to the Executive Secretary of the NHRC, Dr. Tony Ojukwu (SAN), the group prayed to the rights body to not only persuade security agencies to help them to recover the corpse of the victims but also ensure the prosecution of the perpetrators.
Presenting the petition to the Director, Corporate Affairs and External Linkages of the Commission, Mr Obina Nwakonye, the Secretary of the association, Idris Salisu, alleged that it was a gang of hunters and vigilantes that attacked and killed the children after they carted away a total sum of N1.6 million that its members raised from the sale of cows.
He bemoaned that the association was yet to recover the corpses of the deceased victims whose names he gave as Yusuf Muhammadu Sani, Muhammadu Aliyu and Abubakar Dangi.
The petitioners told the Commission that the assailants had earlier attacked police officers that were supposed to provide protection for their community.
They alleged that the gang, on several occasions, extorted monies from their members, stressing that the complaints they made to the village head failed to yield any positive result.
While assuring that Fulani youths in the area would not embark on any reprisal attack, the AMFON scribe said the association would patiently wait for the outcome of the investigation by the NHRC.
“Our members are bona fide citizens of the country and law-abiding business men who are into livestock business for many years in Elaye, Kaba in Kogi state,” he added.
Meantime, after he had received the petition, the NHRC’s Director, Mr. Nwakonye, while extending his condolence to the group, said the allegation would be thoroughly investigated.
Nwakonye implored members of the group to remain law abiding, maintain peace in their place of abode and obey the rule of law.
“I can assure you that the Commission will do everything within its powers to ensure that justice is done in this matter,” he added.
