Akwanaja Massacre: FGDRI Writes FG, Tinubu Seeks Justice to Victim’s Family
Fulbe Global Development and Right Initiative (FGDRI) has write to the federal government, President Bola Ahmed Tinubu seeking for justice to be served to the victims and the family of those killed in an attack by Nigerian Airforce at Akwanaja village of Rukubi Ward, Doma local government area of Nasarawa state.
This was contained in a letter which was signed by the President of the FGDRI Dr. Salim Musa Umar on behalf of the victims family and re-send to the president Bola Ahmed Tinubu as a reminder call for justice to be served after the same letter was sent to immediate passed administration but no response as of this time a copy of which was sent to GLOBAL TRACKER.
According to the letter, the group called for the federal government to constitute a commission of enquiry whose membership should include victim’s family members and community leaders to investigate the incident and reports its findings for necessary actions.
The letter reads in parts: Akwanaja Massacre and Other Related Killings of Pastoralists in Benue and Nasarawa States; a Gentle Reminder
Congratulations on your swearing in as our President and Commander-in-chief of the Armed Forces of Nigeria. We wish you a successful tenure.
We wish to present a reminder in a letter we wrote your predecessor regarding the tragic incident that happened on 24th January, 2023, titled, The Akwanaja massacre of Fulani herders by the Nigerian Airforce.
THE INCIDENT
The tragedy took place on Tuesday 24th January 2023 at about 5:20pm in Akwanaja village of Rukubi Ward, Doma LGA of Nasarawa State, when a drone belonging to, and operated by, the Nigerian Airforce attacked a group of innocent Nigerian herders who were offloading trucks of cattle freshly ransomed from the livestock detention facility in Naka, Gwer LGA of Benue State. In the attack, 37 Fulbe pastoralists and 15 Hausa drivers and truck assistants were murdered in cold blood. Many others sustained various degrees of injuries; some life threatening.
NO RESPONSE
We haven’t received any response to the appeal we made for investigating the attack and possible compensation of the victims, neither from the Presidency nor from the Airforce. The latter did not even admit and apologize for the attack then.
ADMISSION
Few days ago, however, Reuters published a report in which the Airforce admitted carrying out the attack on “intelligence” it received that the civilians were Terrorist. Refer to; https://www.reuters.com/world/africa/us-urges-nigerian-authorities-investigate-air-strike-killing-herders-2023-06-09/ In addition, many International organizations like Human Rights Watch, https://www.hrw.org/news/2023/06/06/nigeria-no-justice-civilians-killed-airstrike and the US Department of States have called on Nigerian authorities to fully investigate the attack and compensate the victims, an appeal we earlier made to your predecessor.
APPEALS
With the fresh air of renewed hope blowing in the country from the determination your Presidency for accountability and good governance, we hereby reiterate the following appeals to you:
1. The Federal Government should immediately issue a categorical statement on the unfortunate incident, admitting it and promising the nation and the international community that justice will be done to the victims.
2. Constitute a commission, whose membership should include members of the victim’s community, to investigate the incident and report details of its findings and recommendations to you.
3. In your capacity as the C-in-C, to reign on the Nigerian military to stop measures that cost the lives of innocent citizens. Many of these incidents have happened in the past and the plight of citizens were ignored.
Thank you.
