Riyom herders petition Plateau CP over social media publication linking them with terrorism
By Muhammad Salisu
Fulani herders in the Riyom Local Government Area of Plateau State have denied allegations linking them to insurgent groups.
ALSO READ
End of Ramadan: The Festival of Eid El Fitr prayers celebrated this Wednesday in Côte d'Ivoire
The herders claimed that three persons: Emmanuel Delson, Gideon Deme, Haggi Ganiks had taken to their social media handles to accuse them of holding several meetings with the aim of committing crime in the state.
For this reason, the herders under the leadership of Hardo Mahmud-Adamu petitioned the state Commissioner of Police, Edward Chuka-Egbuka, dismissing the allegation as false and defamatory.
The petition, signed by their lawyer, Salisu Muhammad, said: “The said publication is not only defamatory and falsely injurious of our clients (Sections 371 and 373 of Penal Code Law of Plateau State, 2017); but same also constitute the offences of inciting public disturbance as well as terrorism under sections 78 and 269 (a) (ili) of the Penal Code Law of Plateau State, 2017.”
The lawyer claimed that the allegation had caused danger to the lives and property of his clients who fear being attacked by gullible readers who may believe the injurious and damaging write-up.
“The sensational but baseless write-ups are calculated to pitch one tribe or religion against another in Plateau, and to ultimately stir up a terrible conflict or crisis, thereby throwing the lives and property of the citizens into jeopardy,” Mr Muhammed added.
The legal practitioner, therefore, called for an investigation into the matter with a view to tracking down the originators of the allegations.
“Doing so will definitely nip the issue in the bud before any catastrophe is brewed therefrom,” he added.
