Herdsmen Attacks: Not Serving Justice is “Worst Corruption” – Hon. Maren

Jos, Nigeria: Nigerian House of Reps member, Solomon Maren says impunity accounts for the growing violent crimes in the country.

Many arrested suspects according to him have been freed without trial, an act he regards as “worst form of corruption.”

During a condolence visit to the Village Chief of Kombun District where 12 people were killed last Thursday by suspected herdsmen, Maren said, “What has encouraged these things to happen is that no one has been prosecuted.

“A lot of people have been arrested in the past but no one has been punished and this is also causing a lot of disturbances and this is increasing the insecurity of our people.

“I want to insist that the security agencies should get to the root of it and let us deploy the same might we have deployed in the fight against corruption to fight these crimes.

“The crime and the failure to prosecute it for me is the worst form of corruption.

“Anyone who takes a life like this has taken everything away from us. And I think government must fight this, to kill this and ensure that we have a safe society.”

The Mangu/Bokkos Federal Constituency Rep stated that a bill for the legalization of local vigilante groups currently before the parliament will be pursued to secure communities.

He said, “The bill has already passed second reading and is currently at the committee of the whole, which is the last stage of the legislative process where it will be passed section by section.

“I want to assure you that once we resume this February, we will make sure that it is attended to so that the VGN will not just be a voluntary organization but it will also be regulated.”

The District Head of Kombun, Mr. Tetmut Audu Gambo, said the attack in Kulben village of the District was saddening but vowed not to retaliate against anyone.

“We won’t react and we will not let this break our bond as a people,” he said.

Hon. Maren also had talks with leaders of the local herders who assured of their cooperation to find the killers.

Community Head of Fulani herders in Kulben, Isa Umaru said I knew those who did it I would personally hunt and hand them over to securities but this thing happened in the night and no one saw their faces.

“But I am praying for God to expose them and if truly they are my subjects, I will never spare them because they want to spoil the good life we have shared.

“I am over 60yrs old and this is where I was born.

“I don’t know anywhere else and i won’t let children that don’t know the value of communal living bring problems to us.”