In October 2010, a traditional ruler and a college provost were abducted in Ekiti state by a gang of kidnappers. While the bandits were taking the victims to a hideout in Delta state, a fatal accident occurred at Kabba in Kogi State.
Both victims were killed while the kidnappers were seriously injured. The criminal elements were promptly arrested by the police and charged to court by the Kogi state ministry of justice. Although the trial court ordered that the kidnap suspects be remanded in prison custody, they escaped last year during a violent attack on the Lokoja prison by unknown gunmen.
Shortly after that, the wife of the Speaker of Osun state was abducted in Osogbo. She was later found by a vigilante group in Ogun state.
In Lagos, the chairperson of Ejigbo local government was abducted. He was released upon the payment of a ransom of N15m. Since then several persons have been kidnapped and released upon payment of ransom negotiated by their family members.
Notwithstanding such incidents of kidnapping the south-west zone was considered relatively safe. But the crisis of insecurity of life and property in the region became exacerbated after the 2015 general elections following the retrenchment of hundreds of armed political thugs and the escape of a number of prisoners at the prisons in Ado Ekiti, Akure and Sagamu in the last couple of years. The few kidnap suspects who were arrested were not charged to any court by the police while the prison management did not declare any of the prison escapees wanted.
No doubt, the kidnap of Chief Olu Falae, a former secretary to the federal government in his farm in the outskirt of Akure, Ondo state last month added a new dimension to the kidnap saga in the region.
Embarrassed by the development President Muhammadu Buhari directed the Inspector-General of Police, Mr. Solomon Arase to secure the release of the Chief. Barely 24 hours later Chief Falae regained his freedom after the payment of ransom by his family.
Upon his dramatic escape from captivity, Chief Falae disclosed that his abductees spoke “good English”. Based on such disclosure it is doubtful if the criminals who kidnapped Chief Falae are Fulani nomads. However, Chief Falae announced last week that his farm had been invaded vi et armis and taken over by a group of Fulani nomads. In a classical display of impunity, the Nigeria Police Force has failed to dislodge the lawless group.
Instead of calling on the security agencies to enforce the law by arresting and prosecuting the group some Yoruba leaders threatened that the south-west region would secede from Nigeria if Fulani nomads are not banned from entering the region! It is unfortunate that the senior citizens who issued the threat did not address the legal implications of their demand. It ought to be pointed out that every Nigerian has a constitutional right not be expelled from any part of the country.
Leaders of the various ethnic groups should be worried over the involvement of educated young men and women in the menace of kidnapping throughout the country. Chief Falae is likely to be pained that the illegal occupation of his farm by a criminal gang may degenerate to civil disturbances between Yoruba farmers and Fulani nomads.
More so, that Chief Falae was at the 2014 National Conference where it was unanimously agreed by delegates that “In the long term cattle routes and grazing reserves be phased out to lay emphasis on ranching ” and that states which have large livestock populations should “endeavor to maintain grazing reserves.” It was further resolved that “An integrated development and livelihoods modernization program should be designed and implemented to address the issue of settling nomadic herdsmen into settled communities based on established cattle ranches with fodder development technologies, and including abattoirs, processors and other businesses along the livestock value chain.” The recommendations have been ignored by the Federal Government.
It is on record that not less than 10,000 heads of cattle are consumed in the south-west daily. The majority of the heads of cattle are brought in malnourished having been made to walk hundreds of kilometres from the northern part of the country. Instead of issuing threats the Yoruba leaders ought to have mobilized the south-west state governors to set up ranches and abattoirs for the production and distribution of meat in the region.
For instance, through a PPP arrangement a modern abattoir, the largest in Africa, was built in Ibadan, Oyo State in 2011. But due to some inexplicable reasons the state government has refused to allow the abattoir to function. The Ekiti state government once had a ranch. It was established by the Adekunle Ajasin government in the second republic. But it has since collapsed due to lack of maintenance. This is not the time to resort to diversionary or escapist solutions to man-made problems. The ruling class should be compelled to address the challenges of establishing livestock, grazing reserves, ranching and modernization of pastoralist or nomadic livelihood in line with the aforesaid recommendations.
In conclusion, the police should move speedily to dislodge the armed bandits who have seized Chief Falae’s farm. The Yoruba leaders should consult with the south-west state governors with a view to addressing the increasing wave of insecurity of life and property in the region. All prison escapees should be declared wanted and fished out by the police. Governments should embark on the massive creation of jobs for the army of unemployed youths.
In addressing the crisis of policing the country, state and local governments should be allowed to set up security outfits. Since northern governors are worried over cattle rustling, their southern colleagues should link up with them with a view to having a holistic approach to the establishment of grazing zones, ranches and abattoirs. Unless these measures are adopted, the country will continue to witness insecurity of life and property.
Femi Falana SAN. Click to signup for FREE news updates, latest information and hottest gists everyday
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If this is how u defend people in court by blaming everybody except Buhari then I'm sorry for the Justice system of this country. You didn't even spare your kinsmen who are actually the victim's of these crimes as they seek to attract government attention to thier plight. For your information, lawful Self determination is not a perverse desire. Obviously, you've likely been advised to speak up so as to earn a nomination in the government compensation list. Please spare us. Sorry indeed for the civil society. Fela and Gani fared better than this. This roundabout ways of serving yourself is clearly becoming a past time and yet you do not observe...... that you can only fool SOME people all the time... History shall judge us all
ReplyDeleteSorry mate. You totally missed the point.
DeleteI am afraid, the SAN has really delivered on point while you are totally off point.
We need to build Nigeria and not destroy it. We need to address root causes in order to avoid escalating consequences.
I agree totally with your comment. He has obviously missed the point while the SAN has outrightly condemned xenophobic attacks on any tribe be it fulanis or not. God bless Nigeria
DeleteWell said, SAN. From your analysis, it is clear that the security agencies are not doing their work as expected of them or how else can one explain that up till now the Nigeria Police has not been able to arrest the culprits who have been regularly invading Chief Falae's farm. Worse still, the Federal Government has also not done anything to implement the recommendations made to solve the issue of cattle grazing, etc.
ReplyDeleteI only hope that the present administration will do something speedily to implement those recommendations, otherwise, the problem, if allowed to continue, can easily degenerate into anarchy and chaos.
Thank you Sir! Since time immemorial, Fulani has been moving from North to South in sustenance of their herds on which we all rely for beef. Dearth of physical and economic planning in the face of population growth that is making our settlements inhabitable is also responsible for the conflicts ravaging our country in all regions. It is high time we take proactive measures to plan our space for sustainable economic, political and social growth.
ReplyDeleteKidnappers spoke good english!!!! You also did not hear OLU FALAE say that Fulani herdsmen kidnapped him and his farm manager also gave an account on how the quarrel started and how the herdsmen came that very day for the kidnap. This SAN simply means SORRY ADVOCATE OF NIGERIA. Fool!!!
ReplyDeleteWhat Yorubas fail to do is caution or discipline betrayers like this SAN Thiefnubu etc. That means they will continue to be betrayed.
ReplyDeleteFalana, I hope your master reads this. Though Fayemi has been given the slot from your state, you can make the lesser list: SSA or SA SPA. Don't worry, go on abusing your people in order to court your Fulani master's favour. Remember: ile l'abo simi oko.
ReplyDeleteI am very disappointed in you. At your age, if craving for political appointment can becloud your sense of reasoning, to me, is very appauling indeed.
Mr Falana had it been it's GEJ administration that this whole thing happen, I know that u will say that he is very to action. Here u go, raising defense for president buhari. Thank God u are aware of ransom that was paid. I think it's time for the yoruba leaders to resort to self-help.
ReplyDeleteYou've spoken well SAN. haters....keep ranting...shior
ReplyDelete