At AND The Special Adviser on the Prevention of Genocide, Alice Nderitu, on Thursday, condemned the January 24 airstrikes in which at least 27 herdsmen, mainly of Fulani ethnicity, were killed in Doma Local Government in Nasarawa state, central Nigeria.
PREMIUM TIMES reported how the police in the country said 27 pastoralists were killed in the airstrikes, but the Fulani group claimed 40 people were killed and many other civilians were injured.
He was killed on his way back from Benue State, after returning livestock seized by the Benue State Government.
The governor of Nasarawa State, Abdullahi Sule, said the incident was being investigated. The Nigerian Air Force has yet to comment on the development, its spokesman, Wapkerem Maigida, did not respond to calls to speak about the bombing which was allegedly carried out by air force bombers.
The UN said
Ms Nderitu expressed concern over worsening security in Nigeria while calling on authorities to ensure counter-terrorism operations are conducted in line with human rights and international humanitarian law.
He recalled that another airstrike in 2017 resulted in 54 civilian casualties in a camp for displaced persons in Borno State.
Ms Nderitu is deeply concerned about the situation in the north-west and north-central parts of Nigeria, where the airstrikes took place.
“The dynamics of targeting communities across identity lines, if not addressed, will lead to inter-communal tensions, recruitment by armed groups and revenge attacks, with obvious impacts on civilians,” he added.
The Special Adviser said that the deteriorating security situation in Nigeria is characterized by the politicization of transhumance, the movement of livestock for grazing, and increasing divisions among communities, including stigmatization along religious and ethnic lines.
A warning before the election
“In this unstable environment, it is important that the general elections scheduled for February 25, 2023 do not lead to violence and even bad crimes,” he warned.
Ms Nderitu also expressed concern about the increasing trend of hate speech across identity lines, and incitement to discrimination, hostility or violence that is spreading in political discourse in the country.
He called on all political leaders to abide by the signed peace agreement including their commitment to a peaceful campaign.
Ms Nderitu also expressed concern about the manipulation of transhumance in political discourse, across West Africa and the wider Sahel region.
READ ALSO: UN warns of worsening security situation in Nigeria
“The continuing level of violence targeting communities regarding transhumance, including hate speech and incitement to violence, is particularly concerning the upcoming elections in many countries in the region,” he said.
UN officials called for swift action to end the conflict, prevent atrocity crimes and allow peaceful elections.
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