The outgoing French Ambassador to Nigeria, Mr. Denys Gauer says he believes foreigners are not involved in the unabated killings currently going on across the country.

Addressing journalists during the commemoration of the 2018 French National Day in Abuja  over the weekend, Gauer, who would be rounding off his tour of duty at the end of the month identified impunity and injustice as the major factors responsible for the killings and bloodshed in the Middle Belt region as other parts of the country.

While urging the Federal Government to punish those behind the killings, the diplomat said Nigerians deserved to enjoy effective security and better governance than the current government was providing.

“The reason for the killings is demography; some people are fighting for land, so there must be direct policy to develop agriculture and animal husbandry. I think impunity is encouraging the killings and those responsible must be punished.

“I don’t believe foreigners are involved in the killings,” Gauer said in response to a question about the claims by the Federal Government that Libyan mercenaries were responsible for the bloodshed.

“The second is justice. When there is that kind of killing, there must be proper prosecution and perpetrators must be properly sentenced. If that does not happen, then, it cannot end,” he added.

He further noted that foreign investors and partners would not be willing to invest in the affected areas on account of the security challenges there, adding that despite the progress made against Boko Haram, the sect had not been eliminated.

He explained that the security forces needed to maintain their offensive against the insurgents so that the displaced persons could return to their communities.

He reiterated the need for the relationship between the two countries to be expanded to involve exchange of culture, renewable energy, agriculture and smart cities.

The departing diplomat stated that he enjoyed Nigeria, having visited Sokoto, Kano, Enugu, Abeokuta, Osogbo, Lagos and other Nigerian cities.