Ghaddafi to be blamed for recruiting and training killer herdsmen – Buhari

We cannot allow the killing of Christians in Nigeria to continue – Trump

Nigerian president, Muhamadu Buhari has blamed former Libyan leader, Muamar Ghaddafi for recruiting and training killer herdsmen in Nigeria. The president claimed that the original Nigerian herdsmen carries only matchetes and sticks and do not carry AK47.

He said this on Monday in Washington DC during the bilateral talk with U.S. President Donald Trump, adding that herdsmen crisis in Nigeria is an age-long challenge.

“The problem of herders in Nigeria is a very long historical thing. The Nigerian herders don’t carry anything more than a stick and occasionally a matchet to cut down foliage and give it to their animals, these ones are carrying AK-47.

“So, people should not underrate what happened in Libya. 43 years of Ghaddaffi, people were recruited from Sahel and trained to shoot and kill. With the demise of Ghaddaffi they moved to other countries and region and carried the experience with them,” he said.

President Buhari added that this is what is aggravating herdsmen crisis in Nigeria. He also appreciated the United States government for assisting in Nigeria’s fight against insurgency and for US military presence in Nigeria.

“We are grateful to the United States for agreeing to give us the aircraft that we asked for. We are even more grateful for the physical presence of the United States military officials in Nigeria. Our institutions in Nigeria, for training them and going to the Northeast to see how they are performing.

“The commitment of the United States to get rid of terrorism across the world, we have fast earned experience from that and we are grateful for it,” he said.

In his speech, President Trump stressed that the United states cannot allow the continuous killing of Christians in Nigeria.

Herdsmen Killings: Christian Organization Vows to Vote Against Buhari

President of the Christian Association of Nigeria (CAN), Reverend Dr ‘Supo Ayokunle recently called on President Muhammadu Buhari to forget re-election in 2019, if the incessant killings by herdsmen, as well as general insecurity in the country is not urgently addressed.

Ayokunle stated this on Sunday, when he joined the Pastor of Baptist Church, Ibadan, the Oyo State capital, Reverend Dr Remi Awopegba, and other clerics and church members as they marched with placards, in response to the directive by the umbrella body of Christians in Nigeria, CAN, to hold peaceful protests within the premises of their churches.

Thousands of Christians have been killed by herdsmen and thousands more displaced from their homes wielding AK47 rifles. The Nigerian state has continuously denied the involvement of local herdsmen, a position which is at variance with the testimonies of the victims.