Al-Makura has links with Fulani insurgents – Nasarawa citizens

The recent statement by the Nasarawa State Governor, Alhaji Tanko Al-Makura, over the military offensive against Fulani militia in the state has been attracting reactions from citizens.
For some time now, the border communities in Benue and Nasarawa States have been under siege as a result of the perennial attacks by armed men suspected to be Fulanis.
But, when the Federal Government sent in troops to contain the insurgency and restore order, their operation seem not to have gone down well with the chief security officer of Nasarawa State, Al-Makura, who wants the security reviewed.
However, citizens of the affected area have received his reaction as an affront and perceived it in different perspectives.
The President of the Community of Tiv Students, Doma Local Government, Nasarawa State Branch, Zayol Barnabas, who spoke from the displaced people’s camp, said the comment made by Al-Makura over the killing of the Fulani militia has put his integrity to question.
Barnabas said that the military was in the state with Al-Makura’s knowledge for the purpose of maintaining law and order and got a hint of the Fulani insurgents at Keana, the headquarters of Keana Local Government Area where the militia engaged in a fierce gun battle with the military men.
According to him, it is a surprise for a governor of the state, who is also the chief security officer of the state, to give a careful cover-up to Fulani insurgents instead of providing useful information that would end the attacks.
He asserted that the governor was not there at the scene of the battle yet presented the story as if he was an eyewitness.
He added: “This implies apparent support for insurgents and his act appears to have admitted having link with the Fulani militia by further establishing good knowledge of their places of abode with every certainty.”
Also, the traditional head of Gwer West in Benue State, Ter Tyoshin, Chief Daniel Abomste, has urged the Federal Government to beam its searchlight on Al-Makura, over contradictory claims on the presence of insurgents in his state.
Abomtse said Al-Makura should tell the world in clear terms who those killed by soldiers in Keano on Thursday were, instead of his claim that they were international hunters and not insurgents.
He said: “Almakura has been quoted in newspapers as saying that he knows where the insurgents reside in forests in his state and that they are not anywhere near the town where the innocent Fulani men were killed.
“But, in his previous comments, when the crisis between Tiv farmers and Fulani herdsmen started, he had said that the state was not habouring insurgents.
“Al-Makura should tell the world in clear terms that there are terrorists in his state and urgently apologize to the Tor-Tiv and if the Fulanis are indigenous to his state, he should bring out their voters’ cards.”
The traditional ruler said he has been vindicated by a memorandum he recently submitted to the Deputy Inspector General of Police Mike Zuokumor-led peace team, which accused the governor of aiding and abating suspected terrorists to carry out mayhem in Benue State communities.
He advised the military authorities to ensure that terrorists posing as hunters within Nasarawa State and anywhere in Benue State are sent out of the country, saying failure to rid the area completely of the suspected criminals would result in their return soon after the military leaves.