Oyo state Chairman of Miyetti Allah Cattle Breeders Association of Nigeria (MACBAN) Ibrahim Abubakar Jiji has alerted that its members now live in fears following the alleged assault on the Seriki Fulani Saliu Abdulkadir by some unidentified youths in Igangan Friday.
The outcry came as the 7-day ultimatum on quit notice to unregistered Fulani herdsmen in Ondo forest reserves expires today (Monday) amidst divergent views on the state government’s position.
The Ondo state government has continued to justify its position, saying it had a mandate to secure residents of the state.
MACBAN flees Oyo
But the Oyo state chapter of MACBAN has expressed worry over the threat to lives of its members.
The state chairman of the association, Alhaji Jiji, who raised the alarm in Ibadan while speaking to journalists weekend asked both the federal and state governments to order arrest of Chief Sunday Adeyemo (a.k.a.) Sunday Igboho over the alleged assault.
He said following the development, the state herders in the state now lived in fear with many others fleeing their homes for safety.
While urging Yoruba and Fulani residents to allow peace reign in the state, the MACBAN leader said: “Since government is supreme to individuals, the state and federal government should come to their rescues and assure residents of their safety.
“We are all Nigerians. We must learn how to leave in peace. We are all Nigerians. We appreciate and love the governor of Oyo state, Engr. Seyi Makinde for saying the truth. We need to join hand together to ensure we have a peaceful society. Our people are not happy and many of them are living in fear. Some had fled their abode.”
Arewa youth speak
Also, the Arewa youth have condemned the quit notice issued by Ondo state Governor Rotimi Akeredolu to Fulani community and the consequent destruction of the latter’s properties worth several millions of naira that followed a similar quit notice in Oyo state.
AYCF President Shettima Yerima said this in a statement Sunday in Kaduna.
“The quit notice order by the Governor of Ondo state Oluwarotimi Akeredolu (SAN) and subsequent attack and destruction of property in Oyo is not only worrisome but disturbing.
“Let it be known that the constitution of Nigeria guarantees every Nigerian to live in any part of this country and free to engage in any legitimate business of his or her choice, the Governor of Ondo state being a learned person is expected to know better.
“AYCF will not support any group that engages in any form of criminality and such people should not be identified by their religion, tribe or ethnicity but should be treated as a criminal. The subsequent attack that followed the quit notice in Oyo state is rather uncalled for and condemnable. The perpetrators must be brought to book and made to face the full wrath of the law.
“AYCF supports constitutional ways of every state protecting her citizens but quit notice should be out of it and must not be considered under any circumstance. Nigeria is an indivisible entity and whatever has the tendency like happenings in Ondo and Oyo must be discouraged in the interest of peaceful coexistence and one Nigeria.
“We call on the governments of Ondo and Oyo states to give peace a chance and rescind the quit notice order while those whose property has been destroyed should be compensated accordingly.
“We must guide against any act that will create a war like situation in Nigeria, we must learn from mistakes of the past and avoid a repeat because its consequences may be unimaginable,” Shettima said.
Aare Ona Kakanfo
But the Aare Ona Kakanfo of Yorubaland Iba Gani Adams has asked Arewa Consultative Forum (ACF), and MACBAN to stop threatening the South-west region with their utterances.
In a statement Sunday by his special assistant on media, Kehinde Aderemi, he warned that the threats of attack on the Southwest can fuel further crisis in both Oyo and Ondo states, which will ultimately affect the nation.
Adams said what Sunday Igboho “said was not even as damaging to the sanctity of the nation than the call for civil war by the ACF and the Miyetti Allah put together”, adding, “the killer herdsmen are the major problem, but sadly the Federal Government remains silent”
“The apex organisation in the North and the herders Association should watch their statements or face the wrath of the Yoruba nation. By their inciting statements, the North are beating war drums. But we will resist any attempt by the North to turn our region to war zones and no amount of threat will stop us from securing our region from killer herdsmen”, he said
Adams added: “From my findings, what is playing out in the last three days (especially in the social media), it is evident that there are some enemies and political elements both within and outside our region now using the bravery of Sunday Igboho as a coordinated attempt to soil my name, and also put my efforts in the past 28 years in the struggle to test.
“My silence in the last three days doesn’t portray me as a coward, but by virtue of my position as the Aare Ona Kakanfo of Yorubaland, I am bounded by my conscience and conviction to act accordingly when the time is right. And I must also consult widely before taking any action.”
The situation in both Ondo and Oyo states, he said, “truly justified the huge security challenges perpetrated by herders that had on several occasions kidnapped and killed many Yoruba in their various communities, adding that Yoruba are too well aware of the looming crisis in the country.”
MBF backs Akeredolu
Also, the Middle Belt Forum (MBF) has declared support for Ondo state Governor Rotimi Akeredolu over the quit notice he issued to herders to vacate the state’s forest reserves or face the full wrath of the law.
The group also expressed worry over the order issued by the Inspector General of Police Adamu Mohammed for Adeyemo’s arrest.
MBF national president, Dr Pogu Bitrus said this in a stement Sunday in Abuja.
He said: “The attention of the Middle Belt Forum has been drawn to the storm of reactions over the quit notice issued by Governor Rotimi Akeredolu of Ondo state to criminal herders to either vacate the state’s forest reserves or face the full wrath of the law.
“We are also worried at the turn of events in the South-west and the order issued by the Inspector General of Police, Mr. Mohammed Adamu, for the arrest of Mr Sunday Adeyemo, AKA Igboho, over his alleged role in the violence that took place at the weekend in Oyo state.
“While we welcome the bold decision by the governor to protect lives and property of citizens threatened by the activities of bandits that have now found safe havens in forests, we are completely opposed to any action by the federal government to escalate the ongoing tension as demonstrated by the arrest order on Igboho.
“For those who insist that the quit order on criminal herders amounts to infringing the citizenship rights of Fulani, the Forum wishes to reiterate that Akeredolu’s quit order is to unregistered herders occupying the forests and involved in kidnappings and banditry.
“The MBF wishes to state that it is unacceptable for the Federal Government to interfere in the genuine efforts deployed by Governor Akeredolu to end the ceaseless abductions of peaceful citizens for ransom. We find it inscrutable for the President Muhammadu Buhari-led Administration to insist on defending criminals whose major preoccupation is unleashing violence and terror on peaceful communities.”
“The only way to end these vicious assaults by these bandits is to completely flush them out of our nation’s forest reserves. We cannot continue to play the ostrich as Nigerian communities continue to suffer bloodshed due to increasing waves of vicious and unprovoked attacks on defenceless citizens by these vicious brigands,” the group added.
Police investigate
Meanwhile, the Oyo state Police command Sunday declared that it has commenced investigations into the alleged “arson and a breach of peace” in Igangan town in Ibarapa area of the state.
The command made this known in a statement by its Public Relations Officer (PPRO) CSP Lawrence Fadeyi.
In the statement, Commissioner of Police Ngozi Vivian Onadeko pleaded for calm and solicited the support of the people of the state in ensuring the state remained “safe and secure.”
“The Commissioner of Police would like to reiterate that the Security Agencies will not watch while some criminal elements take laws into their hands. Investigation into the arson and the breach of the peace, which occurred at Igangan will be investigated to logical conclusion and culprits shall be brought to justice,” it said.
The command further said: “This Press Release is to keep the public abreast of the security situation in Oyo State, especially the Ibarapa and Okeogun zones.
“It is necessary to state that, in handling the situation, Security Operatives applied extreme caution to avoid casualty and to avoid the situation from degenerating to a complete breakdown of law and order. Be that as it may, the Commissioner of Police, Oyo State Police Command would like to appeal for calm.”
The command said the time had come for well-meaning and peace-loving elders in Ibarapa community “to caution and advise restive youths to sheath their swords and shun violence in addressing the complex situation at hand.”
CP Onadeko also warned the youth to guard against being used as pawns to ignite ethnic war, saying, “at no time has violence been used as weapon to address security challenges.”
“Following the fear of threats to public peace, occasioned by the inciting pronouncement of Chief Sunday Adeyemo, A.K.A Sunday Igboho, the Oyo State Police Command jointly with the Operation Burst had embarked on visibility/confidence building patrol of the areas concerned.
“Sadly, the relative peace and calmness, being enjoyed, due to the visibility patrols of the Security Agencies were truncated by the visit of Sunday Igboho to Igangan, at about 1630hrs on 22nd January 2021. The visit had culminated in a mob action by some youths in the town, who, armed with different types of weapons, embarked on arson and a breach of peace. In the process, grievous hurt was committed against one of the Police Officers, while discharging his statutory duties,” the statement said.
The command recalled that “substantial numbers of suspects (of different ethnic backgrounds) were arrested in connection with virtually all the cases of kidnapping or assassination, which had occurred in the State. Some have been arraigned in the Court of Law and being remanded in Correctional Facilities, while investigations are still ongoing in some of the cases.”
