Herders Desecrating Graves of Our Slain, Laments Plateau Traditional Ruler

Kim Nani, the esteemed traditional ruler of Bindi-Jebbu, a community within the Riyom local government area of Plateau State recently ravaged by Fulani militias resulting in the tragic loss of 27 lives, has sounded the alarm over the desecration of the burial grounds of the deceased by herders.

In a televised interview on Wednesday, Nani expressed profound dismay at the herders’ actions, who, with flagrant disrespect, have taken to allowing their cattle to graze upon the graves of those they have slain.

He lamented that the conduct of the Fulani herders not only epitomizes disrespect but also signifies their unwillingness to coexist peacefully with the native inhabitants, who are still grappling with the senseless massacre of their people.

The traditional leader recounted that the 27 individuals brutally murdered by the militias were interred in a mass grave, with the expectation that the herders would at the very least honor their memory and the community’s mourning. However, he expressed shock that the cattle herders have chosen to allow their livestock to graze upon the very site where the victims were laid to rest.

He opined that it is profoundly disheartening that the mass grave of the 27 victims has become an attractive grazing ground for the herders, indicating a lingering hostility within the community.

The monarch observed that the herders’ actions, at a time when the community remains in mourning, have exacerbated the community’s sense of insecurity, seemingly as a deliberate provocation of the survivors and the victims’ families, potentially laying the groundwork for further violence.

He emphasized that the act was a grave violation of the sanctity of the deceased and their final resting place, as well as a stark reminder of the unresolved violence afflicting parts of the state.

Nani implored security agencies to act with urgency to prevent further assaults, ensuring the community can live in peace and pursue their daily lives without the looming dread of renewed hostilities.