Presidency Faults UN Rapporteur Report On Violence In Nigeria

The Presidency on Friday faulted the United Nations rapporteur report on violence in Nigeria.
A statement by the Senior Special Assistant on Media and publicity, Mallam Garba Shehu, described the report as disappointing.
He said: “We have read press reports of the UN rapporteur on violence in Nigeria.
“While we agree that the violence in Nigeria, or in any country, is a major concern and that there is a rippling effect, we are disappointed that the rapporteur was silent on intra-group violence.
“In Benue, Taraba, Cross River States and many parts of the country, most of the casualties result from intra-group, inter-group and community violence.
‘Many of the displaced persons across the nation are also victims of these conflicts.”
He pointed out that the Federal and State governments have handled violence in the country effectively.
“There is absolutely no doubt that violence between farmers and herders, which has a long history in our country spiked in recent years but the effectiveness with which the Federal and State authorities responded made a big difference.
“Calm has virtually returned to all parts affected by the peculiar violence.
“Therefore, we are saddened that the rapporteur did not address intra-ethnic conflicts and cattle rustling as key elements in herder/farmer conflicts. In Benue State for instance, the Tiv/Jukun conflict and kidnapping is a major problem.