Dethroned Kano emir, Sanusi Lamido Sanusi, says President Bola Tinubu will probe the bombing of Fulani herdsmen by Nigeria Air Force at the Nasarawa-Benue border earlier in the year.

Mr Sanusi, also a former governor of the Central Bank, held a meeting with Mr Tinubu at the Presidential Villa on Wednesday. He told State House reporters afterwards that his visit was to congratulate and discuss other national issues with the president.

“But in particular, I came to appeal to him on the case of the 37 herdsmen who were bombed by the air force in Nasarawa State a few months ago which we wrote a letter to President Buhari on,” Mr Sanusi said.

“And we have now written a reminder because it was a matter we didn’t want to be swept under the carpet. The President has asked me to send him that letter and I’m sure that he will look into the matter.” 

The former emir said, “I’m concerned with the issue of herdsmen – farmer clashes. He (President Tinubu) is also concerned. And we discussed steps that need to be taken to begin to look at some of those issues.”

Earlier in January,  Peoples Gazette reported that the Nigerian Air Force conducted another erroneous operation that left scores of civilians scorched by aerial bombardment.

At least 47 people, mainly Fulani pastoralists, were confirmed killed while scores were evacuated to various hospitals in Nasarawa and Benue, witnesses said. Governor Abdullahi Sule of Nasarawa confirmed the attack and said efforts were underway to resolve the crisis with the military. 

A spokesman for the Nigerian military said the air raids in the area at about the same time were only targeted at bandits. He, however, failed to say how many bandits were neutralised during the attack or if there were any other casualties other than the civilians.