August 14, (THEWILL) – The Kulen Allah Cattle Rearers Association of Nigeria (KACRAN), has asked the Ondo State Government to compensate families of herdsmen innocently killed in reprisal attacks, following the attack on the St. Francis Catholic Church, Owo.
Gunmen had on June 5, stormed the Catholic church, killing over 40 worshippers and injuring scores.
KACRAN in a statement issued on Sunday by its National President, Khalil Bello, said a reprisal attack, which followed the incident, emanated from allegation by the State governor, Rotimi Akeredolu, that the attack on the church was masterminded by Fulani herdsmen.
The Association, while commending security agencies for unravelling those behind the attack and arresting the suspects, asked the State Government to pay compensation to the families, whose relatives were innocently killed or lost properties after the governor’s allegation.
Bello said: “We the Members of Kulen Allah Cattle Rearers Association of Nigeria (KACRAN), are sorrowfully joining the families and relatives of the victims of Owo Church attack and that of Herders, who were innocently killed during the mourning of their beloved ones, but wish to immensely thank and highly commend the Nigeria security agencies for their successful arrest of the perpetrators of Owo Church brutal, senseless killing of innocent Nigerians in their place of worship.
“Truly, the Nigeria security agencies did a wonderful, historic job that deserved commendation, not only by Nigerians alone, but by the entire civilised world.
“Surely their excellent performance led to the exposure and continuous arrest of the said criminals, thus bringing to an end the wrongful accusation of law abiding Nigerians, who have no hand in the said barbaric act.
“Here we refer to the exculpation of our law abiding herders who are residing in Ondo State, but were pointed accusing fingers that they were amongst the suspected masterminds of the barbaric act as wrongly painted by the Ondo State Governor, His Excellency, Mr Rotimi Akeredolu.
“This wrong accusation subjected many herders to be victims of reprisal attacks by touts.
“It is in view of this negative development we want to make it abundantly clear to all that we are not denying the fact that there may be some law offenders, who are bad eggs being human beings, but that doesn’t warrant levelling all as criminals.
“Here we want to say that majority of herders are law abiding Nigerians who are operating their pastoral occupation in the peaceful and very useful manner as they continue to pay revenues and other taxes to the government.
“At this juncture, we members of KACRAN, whose core interest is the maintenance of peace in the entire country wonder why from the initial stage a whole governor of a State, which is amongst the old respected States in the country; whose people are very kind and generous and he as a father to all Ondo State people, regardless of their religion, tribe, occupation or the areas they come from, will hurriedly use a highly pitiable, scantly, baseless information to jump into conclusion, making a hasty decision of levelling heavy accusation against a particular tribe or occupation that resulted to the killing of the people and destruction of their properties, but he who is suppose to protect.
“Meanwhile, with reference to the above, we are appealing to all Nigerians to stop making hasty decisions/comments or taking law into their hands when something bad happen in their areas, but rather allow security agencies to do their job professionally.
“We also appeal to Ondo State Governor, Mr Rotimi Akeredolu, to kindly pay compensations to the victims of Owo church reprisal attacks, whose relatives were innocently killed or lost their properties that are the source of their livelihood.
“We also want to call on our security agencies and Amotekun, who were said to have made some arrest in connection to the attack and are still detaining many herders to as a matter of fact release them since the perpetrators of the said shameful criminal act have been exposed.
“We once more appreciate the continuous arrest of many more criminals in connection to the Owo church attack by our able military men.
“We again want to express our deepest condolences to the families and relatives of the entire victims of the said incident and those who were killed innocently due to the reprisal attacks.”
The association also appealed to the Minister of Justice, Abubakar Malami, to execute the Presidential Executive Order given to him for over a year now to reclaim all the enchroached grazing reserves and blocked cattle routes in the northern states, insisting that when executed this shall end the movement of herders to the south and resolve the issue of insecurity related to herders/farmers clashes.
