ordered Fulani Herdsmen and Boko Haram terrorists group to leave the Yoruba speaking South-West region within 7 days. The socio-political group disclosed that it will no longer tolerate criminal activities of the notorious Fulani Herdsmen in the South-West geo-political zone.
The group stated this in a communique issued by its president, Aremo Oladotun Hassan and made available to newsmen after an high powered meeting in the ancient city of Ile Ife, Osun State at the weekend. While describing as unacceptable the killing and kidnapping of people; the group said that activities of militant herdsmen and Boko Haram have heightened insecurity in South West region.
While stating that the killings and kidnapping of citizens by the group is not acceptable, the group further inferred that the activities of the Fulani herdsmen and the Boko Haram insurgents have lead to insecurity in the South West geo-political zone.
The Communique partly reads below.
“In view of the recurrent decimal of flagrant brutal killings by the gun wielding terrorist Fulani Herdsmen/Boko Haram, aggressive invasion and violent attacks; alleged kidnapping of innocent Yorubas and Nigerians domiciled in Yoruba land; gross violation of fundamental rights to human dignity leading to serial and merciless killings of innocent youths; rising wave of insecurity across the nation in Lagos around Ojokoro, Ibadan to Ife road, Ibadan to Ijebu Ode/Benin Ore road, Ekiti to Akure and other highways kidnappings and robberies: incessant records of brutal ritual killings to mention a few; precipitating our unanimous resolution via final 7 days quit notice to all Fulani Herdsmen/Boko Haram to stay off all our territories, towns, villages and highways in all South West states.”
The group also disclosed its displeasure over the Federal Government meeting with the leaders of the Miyetti Allah Cattle Breeders Association of Nigeria (MACBAN) in Kebbi State and plans to establish a radio station solely for Fulani Herdsmen.
The group also condemened the Federal Governement comparison of Miyetti Allah to the Afenifere socio-cultural group and the Ohanaeze Ndigbo stating hat the comparison is “irresponsible and reckless”.
It will be recalled that the Senior Special Assistant to the President on Media and Publicity, Garba Shehu, made the comparision while appearing as a guest on Channels TV’s Sunrise Daily few weeks earlier
He stated that “It is a mistake to say the Nigerian government is talking to bandits.
“The Miyetti Allah group is like Ohanaeze and Afenifere. It is a socio-cultural group. There are criminals within the Yoruba race and you cannot say because of that, Afenifere is a group of criminals.
“The Nigerian government is speaking with the leadership of the Fulani herders association, Miyetti Allah.”
When questioned if it is true that the herders were offered N100 billion to help maintain peace, Shehu said, “That is 100 per cent untrue. I have confirmed that in all the meetings held, money was never discussed. All of the issues were about the involvement of the leadership of Miyetti Allah and getting them to prevail upon its members and they are many. We asked them to assist the administration to recover weapons which were owned by a lot of these elements,”
SOURCE: DAILYPOST, THIS DAY