Rukubi Drone Victims Deserve Attention Like Tudun Biri- MACBAN Cries Out
The National headquarters of the Miyetti Allah Cattle Breeders Association of Nigeria (MACBAN) is calling on the Federal Government to ensure justice for the 40 pastoralists killed in Rukubi, Doma Chiefdom, on 27th January 2023, as a result of a drone attack by the Nigerian air force. The victims were offloading their livestock, retrieved from the Benue livestock guard after paying a fine of 29 million naira.
To justify the victim’s innocence, it was on record that they were publicly buried in the presence of His Excellency, the Deputy Governor of Nasarawa State, the commissioner of police and His Royal Highness, the Emir of Doma and thousands of sympathisers.
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But eleven months after, there was no acceptance of responsibility, no report of investigation, nor any show of sympathy by either the Federal Government or any of its agencies. Those killed were bona fide peace-loving Nigerians, deserving justice like every other citizen.
To our greatest surprise, a similar drone strike in Tudun Biri is getting the attention of not only the Federal Government but even the military, accepting responsibility and pledging compensation for the victims. The leadership of the Northern Governors forum and that of the federal legislative arm of Government have pledged all sorts of assistance in addition to visiting the site.
We, therefore, call on the Federal Government to extend the same gesture to the victims of the Rukubi drone attack and similar incidences that took place in other states.
We believe now is the time for the Federal Government to create a clear-cut compensation package for victims of such incidents nationwide.
While we pray to Almighty Allah to forgive the souls of all victims involved in the incidents, we appeal to the military to take precautions in discharging of their constitutional duties of protecting and ensuring the unity of the country.
Baba Othman Ngelzarma
President MACBAN
