Herdsmen killings: Ijaw youths advise Buhari on what to request from Donald Trump

The Ijaw Youth Council, IYC, has urged President Muhammadu Buhari to
seek foreign assistance from the United States, US, and other foreign
countries in tackling the herdsmen menace in Nigeria.

The call was made by IYC President and Secretary, Eric Omare and Henry
Iyalah, respectively, in an open letter to Buhari.

The council also warned of a likely breakdown of law and order in the
country ahead the 2019 general election if the Federal Government
failed to deal with the herdsmen menace.

According to IYC, "We urge Mr. President to use your foreign trips,
including your trip to the United States, to seek support to stop the
menace of herdsmen's persistent killings and ensure free, fair and
credible elections and not support to win election for yourself.

"The interest of the generality of Nigerians should be uppermost in
your mind over and above your personal ambition to win re-election as
President, in the interest of peace and security of our country,
Nigeria. We also hope that you will not tell President Donald Trump
that Nigerian youths are lazy."

IYC also faulted the alleged manhandling of Kogi West Senator, Dino
Melaye by police officers.

The body said the alleged "Gestapo" treatment of Melaye was seen as a
"strategy to silence opposing voices in the build up to the next
general elections."

Recall that Melaye was alleged to have jumped off a police van in
Abuja while being transported to Kogi State to face criminal charges.

Following the incident, the lawmaker sustained injuries and is
currently at the intensive care unit of the National Hospital in
Abuja.

However, IYC alleged condemned the alleged ill-treatment meted at
"political players" by security agencies.

The council added, "Mr. President, the IYC is concerned by the rising
political tension in Nigeria arising from the treatment of some
political players by the security agencies.

"It is highly condemnable that people who express opposing views to
your administration are being harassed and maltreated.

"The hallmark of democracy is the right to hold an opinion and where
this right is absent, then democracy is dead.

"The treatment being given to political figures such as Senator Dino
Melaye and others is highly unacceptable and condemnable.

"The insinuation in the public is that the Gestapo treatment is part
of your strategy to silence opposing voices in the build up to the
next general elections."