•Afenifere rejects cattle colony in South West
Juliana Taiwo-Obalonye, Abuja and Bamigbola Gbolagunte, Akure
Vice President, Yemi Osinbajo, has, again, called on states that have witnessed killings by Fulani herdsmen not to take the laws into their hands and seek retaliation.
He restated that notwithstanding the fact that the herdsmen-farmers’ clashes predate the President Muhammadu Buhari’s administration, he is committed to end the clashes.
Adamawa, Benue and Plateau states, have, in recent times, witnessed herdsmen attacks.
Osinbajo cautioned against retaliation when he received a delegation led by the traditional rulers of Batta and Bachamma communities in Adamawa, Hama Batta, Homun Alhamdu Teneke (JP); and Hama Bachamma, Homun Honest Irmiya Stephen (JP).
Osinbajo had first warned against retaliation at the Inter-denominational church service for the 2018 Armed Forces Remembrance Day Celebration, held at the National Christian Centre, Abuja, earlier in the month.
“President Muhammadu Buhari is determined to resolve the herdsmen-farmers clashes in Adamawa State and return peace and order to the affected communities. Much damage has been done, not just security-wise, but to the psyche of the people; due to the series of attacks, people are afraid. We are also looking at repairing the damage that has been done to the infrastructure of the communities and rehabilitate the people.”
On the issue of proffering permanent solution to the crisis, Osinbajo said a report provided by the National Animal Production Research Institute (NAPRI), Zaria, would be considered.
In his remarks, the Hama Batta thanked the vice president for the invitation and his visit to the affected communities late last year.
Also, the Hama Bachamma echoed the Hama Batta and thanked the Presidency for its efforts, so far, in tackling the issue.
Meanwhile, the pan Yoruba socio-political organisation, Afenifere, has called on president Buhari to sack his Minister of Defence, Brig Gen Monsur Dan Alli (retd), for justifying Fulani herdsmen killings. The group also called on the president to urgently re-organise the security apparatus, so as to reflect the country’s diversity.
Afenifere, after its expanded meeting held in Akure, capital of Ondo State, yesterday, also demanded immediate disarming of all Fulani herdsmen carrying AK-47 all over Nigeria.
In a communique issued at the end of the meeting, read by its
Publicity Secretary, Mr. Yinka Odumakin, Afenifere rejected “cattle colonies as the concept is offensive, repugnant and an affront on the rights of non-Fulani communities across Nigeria as their lands would now be forcefully acquired and be subjected to an alien culture and rule in the name of cattle rearing.”
“Yoruba people will not allow any colony on their land as we are a free people and anyone who wants to raise cow within our space should do ranching.”