Ekiti State Governor, Ayodele
Fayose, has told Serikin Fulani in the state, Muhammed Abashe, that he will be
held responsible for any further attack in the state.
The governor, who was furious
about the recent killing of a Tiv woman in Orin Ekiti by people suspected to be
Fulani herders, said Abashe had failed in providing leadership by not stopping
his kinsmen from destroying farms and attacking residents under slightest provocation.
Fayose said this on Saturday at a
peace meeting with Fulani herdsmen under the aegis of Miyetti Allah Cattle
Breeders Association of Nigeria, farmers, local hunters, security agencies and
representatives of the Tiv community in Ado Ekiti.
He said, “If you (Fulani herders)
still want to stay among us, you must accept the responsibility to ensure that
none of our peoples’ farms is destroyed by herdsmen any longer. None of our
people must be killed by your men, either they are strangers or those herdsmen
living among us.
“If any killing or destruction of
farms of our people occurs again in that area, I will ensure that I use the law
to fight you their leader on it. This is the last warning I am giving you” he
said.
The governor said the activities
of the Fulani herders had continued to stain the names of President Muhammadu
Buhari and other notable fulani leaders in the country.
He said, “This killing is giving
Fulani people a bad name. If there are no good people among them, how would
General Buhari rise to be president? There are doctors, lawyers, engineers and
other notable professionals among you. This is denting their names. The
greatest of men are the peace makers.
“Even though President Buhari
does not send people to kill, it is spoiling his name. We are to make sure the
killing stops.”
The governor said he would not
compromise in his efforts to shield the state from the menace of the herders.
He promised to enter into
partnership to increase surveillance in the state.
“We won’t be intimidated by the
terror of the few. The moment you are caught, you will face the law. The
killing by fulani is worse than Boko Haram. We want one Nigeria because we have
gone far. Anyone harbouring criminals will not know peace. Enough is enough!
Life is sacred and must be treated as such.”
“I’m calling on the federal
government to be firm, when actions are taken against this mindless
individuals, this killing will stop. It is because they are taking it like a
family affairs; this is not in the interest of Nigeria. Ordinary Nigerians
can’t carry AK47 or pump action.
“I want you to go back home
believing in one Nigeria. These are activities of criminals notwithstanding
their ethnic background.”
Fayose mandated the herders to
register in their location within the next three months for identity and to who
to hold responsible for any issue that comes up at any location.
“Many of the Fulani herdsmen who
settled down here did so without permission from anyone. No one can be living
with us and we – their host – would not know who they are.
“They said some are strangers who
only come briefly but we don’t want that. Now, they would register with
government for a token of N5,000.
“It is not their money that we
need but their identity and locality. The sum of N5,000 would be renewable
after a year.
“We are sending a bill to the
state assembly which would be that anyone caught and found guilty of harbouring
dangerous Fulani herdsmen would be jailed for five years without an option of
fine.
“So, I urge every residents in
Ekiti to report anyone or stranger who is suspected to be a killer Fulani
herdsman.”
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