Registration of herdsmen in South West underway

THE leadership of the Fulani community in the South West rose from an emergency meeting yesterday in Ibadan, Oyo State capital resolving to embark on compulsory registration of all herdsmen operating in the zone and their animals.

This is to ensure effective monitoring of their activities by their host communities and security operatives to guard against unwholesome behaviour.

Meanwhile, the Federal Government has been called upon to implement state police policy in order to check the rising spate of insecurity in the country, especially in the north east and to survival for the Nigerian Federation

Canvassing this position during his visit at the weekend to the home of the former Secretary to the Government of the Federation (SGF), Chief Olu Falae in Akure, Ondo State, five weeks after his release from Fulani kidnappers, the National Coordinator of Odua Peoples Congress (OPC) and convener of Odua Peoples Union (OPU), Chief Gani Adams, restated his call that President Muhammadu Buhari should implement all the 633 recommendations contained in the National Conference Report, including the decentralisation of the Nigeria Police to accommodate state police.

This, he said, would address security and other important issues that sustain the unity and development of the nation.

The Fulani community meeting was held inside the Palace of the Sardauna Yamma and chairman of the Sarkin Hausa was in the 17 southern states, Alhaji Haruna Maiyasin in Akure following the abduction of foremost Yoruba leader, Chief Olu Falae by suspected Fulani herdsmen.

Addressing reporters on the resolutions, Alhaji Maiyasin who doubles as the Sarkin Sasa of Ibadanland called for cooperation of the host communities including the various state and local governments in supporting the Fulani leadership to effectively implement the proposed registration exercise.

According to him, the meeting also mandated Fulani parents to keep close watch on their children and wards to ensure that they do not engage in anti-social behaviours or consumption of hard drugs.

The Fulani community expressed delight over the proactive measures taken by the security operatives, which led to the arrest and subsequent prosecution of the suspected kidnappers of Chief Olu Falae, former Secretary to the Government of the Federation while advocating that severe punishment be meted out on all those incriminated in the kidnapping saga to serve as deterrent.

The community, however, expressed reservations over the secession threat by Afenifere over the Fulani herdsmen controversy saying: “The outburst by the Pan-Yoruba socio-political group was least expected from national leaders, saying this could heat up the polity and also create bad blood in the land.

The Fulani community charged leaders of the various ethnic groups in the country including Afenifere, Movement Actualisation of the Sovereign State of Biafra (MASSOB), Arewa Consultative Forum among others to “be cautious in their utterances and always make patriotic pronouncements that would unite the country rather than set the nation ablaze.

“We should take into cognizance the fact that centuries of co-habitation between the Fulani and Yoruba in the South West had blossomed into inter-marriages between the two ethnic groups, hence leaders from both sides should always preach peace and not discord,” the resolutions further stated.

Adams who led the delegation that included the Coordinator of OPU in Scandinavia, Alhaji Gani Oshindele, the OPU Deputy Coordinator in Europe, Mobolaji Adewale, the OPU Coordinator in Gambia, Adewusi Osho, the Ondo State OPC Coordinator, Mr. Rotimi Akinsowon, added:

“Incidentally, Chief Falae was the leader of the South West Delegation at the conference which recommended state policing. State Police will address the issue of kidnapping as rampant as it is in the East, same for the security challenges being witnessed in the South West, even the issue of Boko Haram in the North can easily be tackled.

“Who can better handle the problems of Boko Haram in the North than the people of various states that are affected using their state police?”

Lamenting the inhuman treatment meted out to the 77-year old elder statesman, Adams expressed doubt over the safety of lives of the younger generation, as well as helpless womenfolk and children.

“It is an insult that such a revered elder statesman can be so harassed in his own land. He is not just an elder, he has been secretary to the Federal Government, former finance minister, a permanent secretary and presidential candidate. If he can be abducted and kept for four days, what then can happen to ordinary citizens?” Adams asked.

On his part, Oshindele said: “This does not eradicate the normal Federal Police operations as practised in U.S., Brazil, Canada, South Africa and many other countries with large population. Federal police will face the challenges of Federal crimes, and I ask, who can secure Sambisa forest better than the people of Maiduguri?”