Christian groups from 19 northern states demand sacking of interior minister Dambazau

- A coalition of Christian groups has asked Acting President Yemi Osinbajo to sack the minister of interior, Lt. Gen. Abdulrahman Dambazau (rtd) 

- The group under the aegis of the Patriotic Christian Front (PCF) alleged that Dambazzau is pursuing an Islamic agenda 

- The group also accused the federal government of showing interest in the criminal activities of Fulani herdsmen in Taraba 

A coalition of Christian groups under the aegis of the Patriotic Christian Front (PCF) has asked Acting President Yemi Osinbajo to sack the minister of interior, Lt. Gen. Abdulrahman Dambazau (rtd). 

The group criticized the role allegedly played by Dambazau, after the attacks in Taraba state and accused him of pursuing an Islamic agenda.

The PCF national president, Timothy Nasso, addressing a press conference in Kaduna, also alleged that the Buhari-led government was out to destabilise the state because Governor Darius Ishaku is the only “Christian governor from the north-east.” Nasso argued that any attempt to intimidate, harass or cow the state governor simply because of his religious inclination would be resisted by Christians from the northern part of the country. 

They alleged that the federal government deployment of high-powered delegation to the state was an indication that it had a special interest in Taraba state. Nasso said: “The sudden interest which the Federal Government showed by immediately deploying the Minister of Interior, Gen. Abdulrahaman Danbazau (retd); Minister of Women Affairs, Senator Jumai A’isha Alhassan; the Inspector-General of Police, Ibrahim Idris; the General Officer Commanding 3rd Amoured Division, Maj. Gen. Benjamin Ahanato; and Senator Yusuf from Taraba Central Senatorial zone is an indication of government’s vested interest in the Taraba crisis.”

Some members of the Benue parliamentary caucus in the House of Representatives raised an alarm over bloody attacks of Fulani herdsmen and strongly criticized President Muhammadu Buhari for downplaying the “genocide” happening to the Agatu people in the state.

The 11 lawmakers condemned Buhari and Abdulrahman Dambazau, the minister of interior, while briefing journalists. They said: “A genocide that typical of the Nigerian state has been downplayed or ignored until it spirals out of control. After the Agatu mass massacre, a few headlines were recorded, a few sympathetic comments in high places but concrete moves to stop the killings have not been made."