The President of Arewa Defence League,Alhaji Murtala Abubakar has
described the two-week quit notice issued to Fulani herdsmen in Omala
local government by the chairman of the council,Labaran Oyigebe as
Speaking to newsmen shortly after paying solidarity visit to Fulaniherdsmen in Bagana,in the easttern axis of Kogi State,the activistsaid hey are saddened by the directive allegedly issued to Fulanis by the council chairman to vacate tthe area,more so that there has not been a a serious misunderstanding between the herdsmen and their host communities.
He opined that the constitution guarantees every Nigerian the right to
reside in any part of the country,and wondered why some very few
individuals in the area were insisting on causing disaffection between
the Fulani herdsmen who have been in the area for a very long time,
and the Igala race.
He further disclosed that the development has led to the sacking of
over 50 Fulani settements in Omala local government,even as some
herdsmen and property worth millions of naira have been lost in the
process.
According to him,the ugly trend has led to the chasing away of Fulani
herdsmen in Abejukoo,headquarters of Omala local government and its
environs,submitting that the victims are currently scattered in
different parts of the country.
Abubakar equally enjoined the law enforcement agents to urgently take
steps to tackle the current high level of impunity in the
area,alleging that one Elias Umoru and Jacob Sule have taken it upon
themselves using the youths, in ensuring that the quit notice to the
Fulani herdsmen are religiously implemented.
He therefore called on the governor of the state,Captain Idris Wada to
as a matter of urgency,call the chairman of Omala local government to
order,stressing that some few individuals have taken laws into their
hands to cause problem in the area.
The president of ADL equally appealed to President Goodluck Jonathan
to show interest in the unfolding development in Kogi
State,maintaining that if the stae joins the crisis prone areas like
Benue and Plateau,it would be too much for the country to handle.
He also enjoined the Sultan of Sokoto,Alhaji Sa'ad Abubakar to
intervene on the matter,even as he strongly condemned the call by the
Benue State commissioner of information,urging the Omala council
chairman to expel the Fulani herdsmen from their area.
But in his reaction,the secretary of Omala local government
council,Julius Atabor said they don't have the power to chase any
Nigerian from their area,adding that the two-week ultimatum was for
the Fulanis living with them to fish out the criminal elements among
them.
He averred that if the herdsmen living in the area for ages decided to
leave because they couldn't get those attacking his kinsmen,they have
no problem with that,adding that it is possible those who left Omala
have moved to the grazing area between the area and Bassa local
government.
While maintaining that they have no problem with the Fulani herdsmen
living with them,the secretary stressed that those violently attacking
his people have no cows,but criminally minded individuals who take
delight in perpetrating evil.
Atabor pointed out that their action was informed by their desire to
protect their people,disclosing that they don't a repeat of the ugly
sitiation in Plateau State in Kogi State.
Also speaking,the paramount ruler of the area and Onu Ife of
Abejukolo,Chief Boniface Musa denied that any quit notice was issued
to the Fulani herdsmen.
He said the Fulanis living in the area were only warned not to harbour
any stranger that might be part of the crisis in the neigbouring Benue
State,as they don't want the crisis to escalate to the area.
The first class chief confirmed that aside little differences arising
from destruction of farms which in most cases are settled
amicably,they have no problem with the Fulani herdsmen,whom he
stressed,have been living with them for ages.
No comments:
Post a Comment