We’ll no longer tolerate impunity of Fulani herdsmen, OPC tells Buhari

Following the killing of a security guard at the farm of Chief Olu Falae, the Pan-Yoruba socio-cultural group, Oodua Peoples Congress (OPC) says it will no longer tolerate the acts of impunity of Fulani herdsmen in the South West part of the country.

The group, while calling on President MUhammadu Buhari to condemn the killings perpetrated by the herdsmen, said the OPC, and indeed the Yoruba have taken the path of peace, “not because of cowardice or because of the fear of these people. We want a peaceful, equitable and united Nigeria, which is the pillar of our struggle. But we can no longer bear it that the blood and sweat of our people are continually used to appease Nigeria.

The OPC and indeed the entire Yoruba nation can no longer tolerate these acts of gross impunity against our people by Fulani herdsmen.”

The group in a statement by Comrade Ogunsanya Pius, OPC Ondo State Coordinator said: “The killing of one our members by Fulani herdsmen in Chief Olu Falae’s farm in the outskirt of Akure, Ondo State, has once again brought to the fore the danger posed by the herdsmen to their peace-loving host communities.

“The heartless murder of Ayodele Ige, the coordinator of the OPC in Akure North Local Government Area of Ondo State would not be allowed to be swept under the carpet like many of several other innocent people killed across the country by Fulani herdsmen.

“It is particularly worrisome that these people have continued their killing spree across the country without any major condemnation by the Federal Government. It is even more worrisome that the innocent victims were brutally murdered for daring to challenge the Fulani herdsmen for grazing and destroying their farmlands.

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“It is strange that the security agencies have found it difficult to put an end to these wicked acts by Fulani herdsmen despite repeated cases of killings and arson against them from all over the country.

“The story is the same from Enugu to Edo, Akokoland to Oke Ogun and other parts of the country.

“The attack by the Fulani herdsmen on the property of a Yoruba leader cannot be allowed to continue.

“For us, the killing of one of us is an attack on all of us, much more when that person is a leader.”

The OPC also said that the a bill tagged “The Fulani National Grazing Reserve”, presently before the National Assembly, which seeks to provide for the establishment of a national grazing reserves and stock routes, “is a very dangerous proposal for Nigeria”.

“We all have seen how the Fulani herdsmen kill and maim members of the community where they graze their cattle without the backing of any law.  I am sure that we can only imagine what their attitudes would be if the supposed grazing reserves are forcefully taken over by government and handed over to the herdsmen.

“The nation is sitting on a box filled with gun powder and it would only take the quick intervention of all well-meaning Nigerians to avert this danger”, the statement read.

 

 

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