On The Brink Of Genocide: Midwestern Movement Of Edo And Delta States Strongly Condemns Plateau Killings

The Midwestern Movement of Edo and Delta States have strongly condemned the unfortunate bloodshed perpetrated by evil doers in Plateau.

In a statement titled, “On The Brink Of Genocide,” the group called on the government to wake up to the bitter realities being thrown at its face as Nigerians continue to live in fear of the unknown.

The statement which was signed by Pedro Obaseki stated that the movement which is a vanguard of professionals, academicians, entrepreneurs and patriots drawn from both DELTA & EDO States, strongly condemns the deadly attacks on Sunday 24 July 2018 on several villages in Barkin Ladi LGA of Plateau State.

We mourn the death of the over 200 men, women and children whose lives were brutally cut short by suspected Fulani herdsmen. With heavy hearts, we pray for the repose of the souls of the dead and for the devastated families and friends they left behind.

We call on the Federal Government, Mr. President, the National Assembly and all concerned authorities to do their jobs and to ensure that the killers do not go unpunished. We equally condemn, in the strongest possible terms, a June 25 press statement that was credited to one Danladi Ciroma who was identified as an official of the Miyettil Allah Cattle Breeders Association, that the killings are a “retaliatory” action for the alleged stealing of cows belonging to Fulani herdsmen. Our view is that such a statement is reckless and utterly condemnable and we urge the law enforcement agencies to respond appropriately. With such irresponsible statements, Nigeria is on the brink of an implosion of seismic proportions.

These unending and avoidable brutal killings are an indictment on the current unworkable political system of the country which remains pathetically incapable of dealing with the grave security challenges of Nigerians. The worsening spate of killings in recent months and years in the Middle Belt region and other parts of the country testify to the urgent need for a complete overhaul of the country’s political and security architecture.

We therefore use this opportunity to restate our call for Restructuring as the necessary first step towards restoring the faith of the Nigerian people and rescuing our motherland from the brink of calamity. We call on all branches of the government at all levels and all civil society organisations, the international community, the traditional and religious institutions and all the good people of Nigeria both home and abroad to join in the chorus for immediate legislative steps towards restructuring as a matter of emergency.

As the only constitutionally created federating unit in the history of Nigeria, the position of the Midwest Movement is a return to the 1963 Republican Federal Constitution which remains the only truly democratic constitution the country has ever had throughout its existence.