Herdsmen: YYF sues for peace, tolerance

Bankole Taiwo, Abeokuta

Ogun State Coordinator of Yoruba Youth Forum, Comrade Olusola Adewusi has warned the youths in Ogun State not to take laws into their hands under whatever guise but maintain peace and order as no meaningful development could take place in a chaotic environment.

Comr. Olusola Adewusi sounded this warning which became imperative in the wake of growing concern against some bad elements among Fulani herdsmen who would rather take to maiming, killing, kidnapping and raping innocent people other than tending their animals.

Adewusi said this in a statement signed by the YYF’s Publicity Secretary, Adesesan Ajayi, and made available to journalists in Abeokuta on Thursday.

Adewusi also warned the Fulani herdsmen who have found new homes in locations within Ogun State, having been chased away from Oyo, to maintain peace and order.

He said that “a lot of allegations and reports are being circulated about the atrocities committed by the Fulani herdsmen in the neighbouring states and in the south west in general. What began with plundering of farms became so bad that at least three or four cases of farm destruction were being reported at the police station daily. The destruction of  farms, killing, kidnapping, armed robberies and raping women have been going on for more than 15 years.”

Adewusi said the head of Fulani in Ibarapa area of Oyo State, Seriki Salihu Abdukadir, who was said to have just relocated to Ogun State has allegedly being fingered to be behind some wicked acts against the indigenes on many occasions as he had often been found to be defending any Fulani herdsman arrested.

He said part of the allegations levelled against Seriki Abdulkadir was that “he was always making sure those arrested were not prosecuted. He would throw his weight behind those arrested. Seriki and his sons were the ones accusing Amotekun of killing his people  when they came to some settlements to fight kidnappers.”

Adewusi said Nigerian constitution, though allows every Nigerian to live and do businesses anywhere in the land but detest killing , raping , cultism, kidnapping and other criminal acts.

He said on this basis, the herders should abide by the law which prohibit grazing along the expressway, night grazing and underage grazing while the youth must also be agents of peace and must on no account take laws into their hands under whatever guise.

He urged members of the public to always report any act of criminality by any tribe to the appropriate law enforcement agencies and not use such occasion to harm the relative peace the state has been enjoying.

Adewusi appreciated the administration of Gov. Dapo Abiodun for attaching great importance to security. He commended the Governor for the provision of patrol vans and bikes for the security personals and his full support for the Southwest Security outfit codenamed  Amotekun.

He also appreciated the Commissioner of Police in the state, CP Edward Awolowo Ajogun for the great job the force has been doing to fight insecurity in the state.