Terrorism: Senator urges Nigerians to search wider for sponsors

Senator Gyang Pwajok (PDP, Plateau North) has cautioned against “flat assumptions” over those responsible for the many attacks in the country, as more communities come under attacks.

He told the News Agency of Nigeria, NAN, in Jos yesterday that “Nigerians must think deeper, search wider and push much stronger; we must spread our dragnets all over and broaden our horizon in our desire for an end to these evil deeds.

“We must never just assume because that is a very simple tendency that could affect the possibility of reaching the attackers and unveiling their sponsors and motives.”
Pwajok particularly faulted the tendency to blame “Fulani and herdsmen” for attacks in the North-West and North-Central.

He said: "When we blame the Fulani herdsmen, we communalise the crime and reduce investigating opportunities. Similarly, when we blame people of a particular tribe or religion over the attacks, we narrow the search for the culprits, who might just be bandits out to kill, destroy and tear our country into shreds.

“Cattle rustlers are also on the prowl all over the country; the rustlers could even be among the herdsmen and their host communities. We must not limit the search for such thieves to a particular group.

“Experience has shown that practically all Nigerians have suffered the effect of these attacks in one way or the other because bombs, bullets and machetes are blind to race or colour.”

The senator said “again, the girls being abducted by the bandits in the North-East could be anyone’s daughter or sister; the apprehension of the parents can only be imagined, but clearly, no one is immune to these atrocities."