"There is an evidence that some politicians are involved in killings" - Presidency

Governor Simon Lalong of Plateau state said if the intention of herdsmen attacking communities in the state was for the purpose of grabbing lands for themselves, he will not allow such to succeed.

The governor made the comment in a chat with State House correspondents in Abuja on Thursday, July 5.

Lalog said that it is the duty of government to discourage such intention.

The Presidency on Sunday, July 8, declared that it has evidence that some politicians are involved in the killing of innocent citizens who died as a result of the crisis between herdsmen and farmers in the country.

Channel TV reports that the senior special assistant to the president on media and publicity, Garba Shehu, made this known in a statement in Abuja.

Shehu said: “As President (Muhammadu) Buhari indicated lately, there is evidence of involvement of some politicians using criminals to perpetuate the killings.”

Shehu, however, appealed to Nigerians and members of the international community to refrain from spreading false stories and inflammatory statements concerning the recent herder-farmer clashes.

He said government is working closely with state governments and the security services, as well as international partners in order to resolve the issue.

The president’s spokesman noted that the clashes between herders and farmers were historical while the causes of the confrontations witnessed were complex and varied.

He noted that climate change, specifically the drying up of the Chad Basin has led to more pressure on the population in the northern part of the country, stressing that this further compounded the problem.

Shehu who explained that climate change was an issue of global significance said the government was determined to continue working closely with its neighbours in order to ensure that a long-term solution was implemented.

He maintained that the federal government makes no distinction among the people and is working tirelessly to protect all Nigerian people.

The presidential aide said: “We are strongest as a nation when we are united and it is through unity that we will overcome this challenge.”