Fulani Herdsmen Crisis: “It’s Now Taking A Dangerous Dimension”- Awa Bamiji

Fulani Herdsmen Crisis: “It’s Now Taking A Dangerous Dimension”- Awa Bamiji.

The President General, ‘Aare Apapo’, of
“Agbarijo Egbe Odo Yoruba”, Grand Council of Yoruba Youths”, Comrade AWA Bamiji has stated that the Fulani herdsmen crisis is now taking a dangerous dimension in the country, especially, in Southwestern Nigeria.

He said, “It is unbelievable that despite the crucial meeting of the Southwest Governors’ Forum with the Fulani Herders in the Southwest which was held in Akure last week Monday, the Fulani Herders’ crises still remains unabated and it is even on a larger scale with the series of shootings, killings and unlawful occupations of hectares of farmlands and 5 Villages – Kajola, Gbagan, Idere, Konkon and Magbeje, that belong to the Residents and farmers of Ayete area of Ibarapa by the Fulani Herdsmen headed by a Warlord, Iskilu Wakili, who works with dozens of Herders and the ever increasing members of his Battalion, to mount red flags on some locations on the invaded farmlands and villages as a “no cross zone”. These conquered places are now being called “Iga Wakili”.

Awa Bamiji further stated, “Coupled with a startling revelation by Governor Rotimi Akeredolu, SAN, of Ondo State, which again confirmed that Nigerian borders are ever porous and these notorious criminals among the Fulani Herdsmen from the neighbouring countries have been seizing this opportunity. So, these dangerous immigrants are now in our midst in their large number.

“One of these criminal elements was caught, beaten and paraded naked by residents yesterday in Oluwatuyi area of Akure while trying to pluck the eyes of a weak victim, a woman, after raping her.

Bamiji noted that, “This development is not limited to the Southwest alone but it is now in vogue in other regions where the residents have been pushed to the wall by the unfriendly attitudes of the criminals among the Herdsmen.

“Just like Lagos/Abuja Express, Abuja/Kaduna Express, Kaduna/Kano, the Benin/Ore Express has also become a death trap since for the innocent travellers, courtesy of these notorious criminals among the Fulani herdsmen and this is one of the reasons the frustrated Uromi women protested against the Fulani living in Edo state and blocked major Roads in Town today.

He said, “In Kwara, Ekiti, Ogun states and several other states in Nigeria, there is a similar outcry and the whole episode appears as if we don’t have the competent law enforcement agents in place or there is no matching order from the above for them to act on.

“We have been witnessing attacks and counter attacks here and there and this portends a great danger to the peaceful co- existence of various ethnic groups in Nigeria.

“We ought to have learnt our lesson from the prolonged endSARS Protests that were staged continuously for two weeks across the country last year October whose negative socio – economic and political impacts on the Nation is not sure of surmounting in few years to come, by quickly nipping this looming danger in the bud before snowballing into a major ethnic war.

Awa Bamiji maintained, “It is on this note, we are advocating a convocation of a peace meeting between the host communities, Fulani Herdsmen and critical stakeholders like traditional rulers and the Representatives of the various Socio – Cultural and political groups in Yoruba land to be convened by President Muhammadu Buhari, GCFR, himself, outcome of which must be put into immediate action across the regions to avoid further loss of lives and properties.

“We strongly feel that the inability of the last week Southwest Governors’ Forum meeting with Fulani Herdsmen to attract the Leaders of the Host Communities and other major Stakeholders has given a room to this ongoing jungle justice in Yorubaland with the increasing volume of a chorus, “Seccession of Yorubaland is now”.

“If the government fails to meet the people’s yearnings, especially when it comes to issue of life and death, the alternative will be forcefully sought for and this is the situation we found ourselves now”, Awa lamented.

“A stitch in time saves nine”. Odu’a a gbewa o!”, Bamiji prayed.