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BY ADEFEMOLA AKINTADE
The National President of Miyetti Allah Kautal Hore socio-cultural organisation, Abdullahi Bodejo has boldly declared that any Governor who desires peace to reign in his state, must provide lands for cattle grazing with basic amenities to sustain the herdsmen.
Abdullahi made this declaration while speaking with newsmen during an interview. Abdullahi said so many Governors have attached politics to RUGA, enacting the anti-grazing laws to make life difficult for herdsmen.
In his words,
“We have grazing routes and grazing reserves and if Nigeria wants to solve the herdsmen and farmers clashes once and for all, you are a governor and you want to enjoy peace in your state, you don’t need any long meeting, just create a particular area for the Fulani and equip them with modern amenities. Instead of doing this, they are playing bad politics with Fulani.
“Since when the Ruga started, I’m yet to see any, except the efforts being made by the Zamfara State governor. No other governor is doing anything about it; it is still politics.
“Look at the support given to rice farmers through anchor borrowers programme; it is running into several billions of naira, and yet there is nothing for the Fulani business.
“Some people are saying cattle rearing is a private business, but about 99 percent of the cows we are eating in this country are from Fulani.
“States are making revenues from cows. For example, in Lagos, over 6,000 cows are killed daily and the state government is making so much money from that and that is the way it is in other states of the country.
“These governors are not serious, that is why they are talking about anti-grazing laws; they are not serious in maintaining peace in their state; they are not serious in carrying everybody along.
“They want to politicise the Fulani issue. See how they are criminalising the Fulani man; these people they arrested for criminal activities are not Fulani, some of them have learnt Fulani languages and people say they are Fulani.
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Security operatives in Bauchi state have apprehended a Fulani herdsman with Ak-47 rifle.
Sadiq Mohammed
A Fulani herdsman arrested by the operatives of Bauchi State Police Command has justified why he carried AK-47 rifle when grazing.
According to a report by Punch, he said he used it for self-defense.
The herdsman, Sadiq Mohammed, who spoke with newsmen while being paraded at the Police headquarters in Bauchi on Wednesday, said although he was arrested with two guns — an AK-47 and a pistol — he was not the owner.
He said, “I’ve had these guns for 11 years this year. I got them since I was in Plateau State.
“The man who first bought this gun is dead. He was killed, so I took it.
“I have never killed any person with these guns, but I’ve been using them to protect myself and my cows from people who may want to attack me and steal my animals.”
The father of two added that “any time I take my cows to Plateau State, I use the guns to protect myself while I rear them (cows).”
Asked if it would be right to say that he killed his colleague and took his gun, Mohammed, who said he is also a farmer, responded: “Well, yes, that can be said; but he’s a Fulani man, my brother.”
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By Nelson Ofokar Yagazie | Biafra Writers
Sir Ahmadu Bello’s dream of making Nigeria an estate of Othman Dan Fodio and using the southern part of the country as conquered territory seems to be coming to fruition as Myetti Allah, the parent body of terrorist Fulani herdsmen, has managed to intimidate the governor of Anambara state, Willie Obiano, into making it a part of Anambara state ruling class. The subservient governor broke the ugly news in an event believed to be a security accord between Myetti Allah and Anambara state government.
As captured in a video clip made available to the press, the lily-livered governor made the revelation while delivering a speech in which he valued the life of an average Igbo man at ₦500, 000. “Myetti Allah is in the government of Anambara state,” the thoughtless governor announced.
Now part of the decision making body of Anambara state, Myetti Allah certainly will, working like the proverbial yeast of the Pharisees, influence a complete ‘RUGAlization’ and total takeover of the land. Whether or not Governor Obiano knows the implications of that singular decision remains to be ascertained. One thing is clear however: his lust for power overrode his sense of reason. Clearly, the fear of losing the governorship seat (which in the first place he got through manipulations authored by the caliphate) led him into caving in to Myetti Allah’s demands. Islam, it should be remembered, plans decades ahead.
Recall that briefly after the independence, precisely on October 12, 1960, the then Premier of Northern Region, Sir Ahmadu Bello, (Sarduana of Sokoto), yearned for a Nigeria that will be an estate of the caliphate, enslaving the south while employing the services of Northerner minorities. Widely reported by the then foremost media outfit, Parrot Newspapers, Ahmadu Bello said, “The new nation called Nigeria should be an estate of our great grandfather, Othman Dan Fodio. We must ruthlessly prevent a change of power. We will use the minorities of the North as willing tools and the south as a conquered territory, and never allow them to rule over us and never allow them to have control over their future.”
Foreseeing the fate of Afonja and the people of Ilorin in the pathetic decision to bring into the fold the Caliphate’s frontliners, one need no telling that it’s only a matter of time and the Sarduana’s dreams will come to full realization. The masses are therefore in a rude-shock, with many expressing concerns over the mental health of the brash governor.
Source: biafratimes
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Thirty six cows were reportedly struck dead late Saturday by thunder bolt on top of a sacred hill at Ijare town in Ifedore Local Government Area of Ondo State.
The dreadful hill known as ‘Oke Owa’ was located on the outskirts of the sleepy community.
Sources said only the town’s monarch(Olujare,)and some chiefs normally visit the town once in a year.
This is usually during the celebration of the new yam festival to perform some rituals.
An indigene of the town ,whose house was on the way to the hilltop said the incessant striking of thunder bolts accompanied the evening rain made them suspecting the strange occurence.
It was learnt that nobody knew that the thunder had actually caused havoc until a hunter came in the morning to reveal that during his hunting expedition, he saw some dead cows on the hilltop.
This development gingered the traditional ruler of the town, the Olujare of Ijare, Oba Adebamigbe Oluwagbemigun Kokotiri 11 to send delegation of chiefs to report to the police and visited the scene to assess what actually happened.
The incident consequently attracted several people in the community especially youths who trooped to the hill to see wonders.
At the hilltop, there were 36 dead cows lying flatly on the ground without any mark on their bodies.
Speaking with reporters, the Olujare of Ijare, who spoke through his second in command, Chief Wemimo Olaniran, the Sapetu of Ijare, it was an act of God.
The Sapetu of Ijare said the herdsmen had been destroying their farmland for a very long time which had led to confrontation on many occasions.
He said it was surprising to them when they heard five days ago that some Fulanis were ascending the sacred hill to settle after they had destroyed many farmlands and created fears in the minds of the people.
His words”We were there this morning and we saw about 36 cows dead apart from the one inside the bush. It has happened and there is nothing we can do, we regards it as the act of God which nobody can be query.
“There had been occasions like that but not as massive we are having it now, to some individuals who desecrated the land. In the past we did witnessed thunderbolt attack, when you desecrated any part of Ijare particularly the sacred places.
“The dead cows will be there for ever it is part of the history in our land for people to see as testimony in future that such a things happens, a whole Oba buried there live and heaven did not fall talk less of ordinary cows.
“Oke-Owa is a sacred hill where the Oba and some of his chiefs visited once a year during new yam festival to offer sacrifices on behalf of the community.
”Even those chiefs accompanying the Oba must not go to the inner part of the hill because there is a particular place where only the Oba have to enter and spend a night.
“This is a hill that the herdsmen wanted to desecrate with their herds. It is a taboo. When we heard about the incident, we invited the herdsmen and they confirmed that it was thunder that struck the cows.
”We went to the police station to report the matter and the Divisional Police Officer was contacted before chiefs including myself went there.
“Those cows would remain there and rotten because nobody must touch them otherwise there would be problem”.
When contacted, the Police Public Relations Officer (PPRO) for Ondo State Command, Mr Femi Joseph confirmed that the matter was reported at Ijare Police Station.
Joseph described the incident as a natural disaster that is unfortunate and which nobody can do anything about.
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•Says Fulani Is The largest ethnic group in Nigeria
National President of Miyetti Allah Kautel Hore, Abdullahi Bodejo, has said Southeast governors and Ohanaeze want to divide Nigeria by their directive compelling Fulani herdsmen to transport their cows to the region. Speaking with VINCENT KALU, the leader of the Fulani socio-cultural association, said for peace to reign in the country, every state must carve out a portion of land for his ethnic group to settle.
What is your view on the state of the nation, the pervading insecurity in the country?
Nigeria is like the giant of Africa. She is not insulated from security challenges facing countries like America, India, Germany and others. As a Fulani cattle rearer, I’m not competent to comment on security issues, which fall within the purview of the army, police and DSS, NSA and other security advisers.
On the other hand, security is everybody’s concerns; the Fulani are victims of this insecurity in the country, and that is why I have to comment on it. The insecurity situation in the country is very terrible, especially for Fulani; we are being attacked here and there all over the country.
Just like other people have provision stores, cosmetic shops and other businesses, our cow is our business, and calamities and other things happen to the herdsmen and because there are no telephone networks in the forest and bushes where they stay, we may not know about it. It is terrible for them.
You just said that cow is the business of the Fulani, the trouble is that people say that you cannot use your business to destroy others’ businesses; that is, you can’t use your cows to destroy their crops in the farm
Fulani deal with animals; animals can be controlled when they are eating and are not hungry, but the moment they don’t get something to eat, it becomes a big problem.
One person can control 100 cows if they are not hungry, but the moment they are hungry, even eight people cannot control them. Up till now, I’m still rearing cows and if my cows destroy any farm, we know how to settle ourselves, that is, the farmers and the cattle rearers.
The real farmers and the real Fulani cattle rearers are having this problem inside the bush, but all these attacks here and there are caused by these politicians who are eating security funds, and so begin to escalate the crises. Now the bandits are attacking and stealing Fulani cattle and causing crises.
All these places where you have herdsmen and farmers crises, go and check well, and if need be, research on the history of the crises, you won’t see where cattle had destroyed farms; these crises are usually created during the election period.
During election time, you find crises; even when a man fights his wife, they would say the Fulani caused it. Everybody wants to politicise the Fulani issue. Everybody wants to use Fulani issue to blackmail the federal government because the President, Muhammadu Buhari is a Fulani. Everybody wants to use the cattle issue to eat money from the government. People who want to make money from the government are not usually happy when they see the Fulani in areas where they are at peace with their host communities.
All these noises across the country are not about the herdsmen and farmers; it is about people trying to make money from the government. The moment there is a little problem, they issue press statement and give to all these newspapers that will publish that Fulani did this or that, which is to demonise them, but the only exception is The Sun, which makes sure it balances its story, that is why we the Fulani like to read it.
Last week, the Southeast governors and the Ohanaeze met and directed that anyone bringing cattle to the Southeast must transport them and also banned herdsmen in the region from using AK 47 rifles, what is your position on this?
This is a challenge for the northern governors; they are supposed to prepare a place for all our cows before we are taken by surprise. About 99.9 per cent of the cows consumed in the Southeast, Southwest and the entire South are from individual Fulani cattle owners. These people who are shouting cattle this, cattle that, go and check, they are eating cow meat almost every day.
If they ban the cow from coming to their area, they will be one of the people to miss the cow. I will call a meeting to see what we can do because we cannot allow our Fulani people to continue to go to danger zones.
These things they are doing show that they are not good Nigerians. Good Nigerians are supposed to accept every Nigerian to do his business in any part of the country by whatever means of bringing the business there. We Fulani are not happy over the way some governors and the Ohanaeze in that region are reacting over the Fulani issues.
Once you are a governor, you begin to see everyone no matter the particular area he comes from as one. That area is everybody’s area whether Fulani, Tiv, Ijaw, Yoruba etc, it is part of Nigeria; Nigeria is one.
Let the governors and Ohanaeze stop pushing that position because it is not in the constitution of Nigeria, and it is annoying. They are not trying to unite people; they are trying to divide Nigeria by their acts. We have different associations in that area, and some are shouting to be seen as working for their people; maybe they are working for their people.
Like the Fulani organisation, Miyetti Allah Kautal-Hore, we are always seeing how we can unite this country; we are not doing things to just protect only the Fulani interest, but we are doing things to protect the interest of this nation because Nigeria is one; Nigeria is our own and it is for everybody.
The Southeast governors and the Ohanaeze should go back and check the Nigerian Constitution, in case they have forgotten that Nigeria is one, the constitution will remind them. Nigeria is one and every Nigerian has the right to go anywhere he likes by any means he chooses.
What they are saying is that if you are bringing cattle, bring them by vehicle, not a situation whereby you trek with them through the bush from anywhere to the region.
The bush doesn’t belong to them. If you are a governor or whatever they can call you, the bush has been there. If they claim that they are farming, they are not farming on every part of the bush.
For the Fulani, their business is inside the bush. The governor and the organisation don’t have any reason for that; if they did, let them open up or come up with the reason. They can’t say if they want to bring cows they must bring them in with vehicles.
Before the introduction of vehicles, the Fulani were moving with their cows and supplying their cows to any part of the country. From Taraba State, Fulani have been trekking with their cows to sell in Anambra, Port Harcourt, Ibadan, Uyo, etc. This is part of the culture of the Fulani.
How long have trailers been used to supply cows; before they introduced trucks in this country, Fulani was trekking with their cows to cattle markets to sell them. We call it Palke.
Palke people trek with their cows from Maiduguri to Anambra to sell, this means it is a Fulani culture, and you don’t just go and touch people’s culture. But, in the process of trekking with their cows and any of them commits a crime, let the security agency deal with him in accordance with the law.
Borno State governor, Babagana Umara Zulum has asked Fulani people to come and settle in Sambisa forest and his Kano counterpart, Ganduje also asked you to return to Kano that he has enough land for you, what is your take on these offers?
The governors of Borno and Kano states have made the promises, but in all the governors across the country, we have seen a very serious governor, and he is the Zamfara State governor. I like to call him, ‘Talk and Do Governor’, because he came and saw the Fulani issue was all about politics. He came out to say something and he is implementing it, like this RUGA issue and how he is settling this banditry problem and the crises in the state.
If Borno State governor says he has given the Fulani Sambisa forest to go and settle, let him start to implement it, but it should not be a politics thing. Fulani are ready to collect not only Sambisa; every state in this country should give the Fulani someplace to settle, as they are the largest ethnic group in Nigeria. They are so many that three states cannot accommodate them. Let every governor; both in the North and the South carve out an area for the Fulani in their respective states.
Are you saying that every state should carve out an area and give to the Fulani to settle, in line with the RUGA programme?
Yes, that is what I’m talking about.
But that is one of the reasons the country is being overheated; other ethnic groups say it is a plan to Fulanise and Islamise them
If a Yoruba, an Igbo or any other ethnic group were the president and Ruga is to be implemented, nobody will raise an eyebrow. The reason they are saying this is because President Muhammadu Buhari is a Fulani and as I said earlier, people are trying to be playing politics with anything that concerns Fulani.
But if we say give these people a place to stay and let there be peace in the country, why can’t you do that? Why the government is supporting crop farmers with billions of naira, have we shouted; how much have they given to the Fulani cattle rearers to go and do their business, nobody is talking about that one. We are playing the wrong politics in this country.
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The suspended controversial Rural Grazing Area settlement designed for Fulani herders has been reinvented and would be inaugurated by Vice President, Yemi Osinbajo, in Adamawa State on Tuesday.
SaharaReporters gathered that five federal gazetted grazing reserves in the state were chosen to pilot the implementation because of its large Fulani herdsmen population.
However, Chairman of National Livestock Transformation Programme, Prof Alikidon Voh, said the move had nothing to do with RUGA.
Adamawa State deputy governor, Crowther Seth, convened a strategic meeting on Wednesday with traditional rulers, where he informed them of the development and urged them to support its implementation.
Seth said, “The Vice President will visit the state on September 10, 2019, to inaugurate the National Livestock Transformation Programme.
“The NLTP as you will soon see during the presentation, is a very laudable, non-political, non-religious non-ethnic and non-partisan plan that seeks to modernise livestock production.
“It is also to bring an end to the violence and fatal crises that engulfed some states of the country including Adamawa.”
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At least one person has been killed as Fulani herdsmen attack Iggi Village in Bininkudu Local Government Area of Jigawa State in North-West Nigeria.
The Commissioner of Police in the state, Bala Zama, confirmed this to reporters on Thursday in Dutse, the state capital.
According to him, the clash broke out as a result of a dispute over the ownership of land between the herdsmen and indigenous farmers around Iggi forest.
The Chairman of the Miyetti Allah Cattle Breeders Association in Jigawa, Mr Sa’idu Gagarawa explained that the incident was a reprisal after two Fulanis were severely beaten by farmers from Dagalma community.
Gagarawa said, ”Two Fulani men were found soak in blood after being beaten by the farmers, and that is what prompted some Fulani youths to embark on a reprisal which resulted in the unfortunate death of one person.”
“The dispute on the grazing land assigned to the Fulanis for several years has been resolved by the community leaders only for the farmers to rekindle the issue now,” he claimed.
But a relative of the victim who pleaded for anonymity said the herders attacked the indigenes whenever they were on their way to their farms.
He said, ”Before we can reach our farms we have to cross a river and usually when we are on our way back home, they stop us and cease what we are bringing back home.
“If you resist, they would shoot you.”
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Elder statesman and northern leader, Alhaji Tanko Yakassai has advised governors of the five South-East states of Anambra, Enugu, Imo, Abia and Ebonyi state not to resort to self-help but to remain committed to the provisions of the constitution in the management of affairs of their respective states.
The former Presidential aide to President Shehu Shagari gave the advice yesterday while reacting to the ban of cattle movement in the South-East geo-political zone by the governors.
According to Yakassai, every Nigerian is constitutionally empowered to practice his trade in any part of the country, adding that where there are established cases of infractions, the security agencies should be called upon to do the needful.
He said: “The cattle do not move about on their own. There are herders who move them about and these herders are Nigerians. You cannot ask any Nigerian not to go to any part of the country because the constitution guarantees freedom of movement for all.
“If you are asking the Fulani not to move with their cattle, will you also ban commercial drivers who ply various routes linking one part of the country to another?
“South-East leaders particularly elected officials must be careful of their utterances. The laws of the Nigerian state are binding on all. You cannot do anything outside what the constitution says.
If you do, you are resorting to self-help and that will not augur well for our country.
“As I said earlier, there is no point banning cattle rearers from moving about with their herds.
Where there are established cases of cows eating up crops, there are ways to deal with this and if there are issues bothering on security, we have the security agencies to call upon to do their job.”
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Governors of South East geo-political zone, on Saturday, rose from an expanded meeting with the Minister of Aviation, Senator Hadi Sirika, representative of the Minister of Works, heads of security agencies at the national, zonal and state levels, Managing Director of FAAN, the President General of the Ohanaeze Ndigbo, Chief Nnia Nwodo, Prof Barth Nnaji, among others and resolved to commence a joint air operation to flush out bandits from all forests in the zone, “and to make it a continuous one”.
The governor also restricted inter-state movements of herdsmen and their cattle as well as foot movement of cattle and herdsmen from communities to communities across farmlands in the zone.
In a communiqué issued at the end of the meeting which was attended by Governors Ifeanyi Ugwuanyi of Enugu State, David Umahi of Ebonyi State/Chairman of the Forum, Willie Obiano of Anambra State, Rt. Hon. Emeka Ihedioha of Imo State and Deputy Governor of Abia State, Rt. Hon. Ude Oko Chukwu, the forum commended Gov. Ugwuanyi for being the first to commence the operation of Forest Guards in the South East and encouraged the remaining states to launch theirs.
The governors “banned herdsmen who move about with AK-47 guns and cutlasses” and asked security agencies in their various states to ensure the implementation.
On Operations Python Dance, the South East Governors Forum, through its Chairman, Gov. Umahi, who read the communiqué said they “never invited the Army nor were South East Governors informed of their Operations Python Dance until the operations were already started in the states”.
The governor agreed to write President Muhammadu Buhari for a meeting with him and all the Service Chiefs on security to douse tension in the region.
On the closure of the Akanu Ibiam International Airport, Enugu, the governors disclosed that the Minister of Aviation assured them in the meeting that the airport would be reconstructed to meet the Abuja International Airport standard, adding that the runway repairs and other renovation works will be completed by December this year.
The governor further disclosed “the Sam Mbakwe Airport in Owerri, will be given face-lift to accommodate flights that would be diverted from Enugu Airport to Owerri Airport”.
While acknowledging the safety reasons given by the aviation minister for the closure of Enugu airport, the governors stated that “we support him for closing the Akanu Ibiam International Airport, Enugu to save the lives of our people and our visitors”.
They therefore agreed that “palliative and security measures to be worked out between FAAN, Ministry of Aviation, South East State Governors, Security Agencies and FMoW to ease out inconveniences and make the routes safe through a joint committee”.
“South East Governors and security agencies to patrol all routes leading to where flights will be diverted from Enugu and also provide escorts to all travelers to the airports,” the communiqué added.
Consequently, the governors constituted two committees to interface with Ministry of Aviation, FAAN, Security Agencies and Federal Ministry of Works, while Maj. Gen. Abel Obi Umahi (Rtd.), Capt. Awa Agwu (Rtd.), IGP Ogbonna Onovo (Rtd), CP Ikechukwu Aduba (Rtd.) and Mr. Raymond Nkemdirim, were inaugurated as chairman and members of the joint security committee, respectively, to be located in Enugu State.
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On Thursday, Bishop of Jalingo, Bishop Charles Hammawa has condemned the killing of Rev. Fr. David Tanko of St. Peter’s Catholic Parish Amadu, Taraba by yet-to-be-identified bandits.
It had reported that a group of unidentified bandits, on Thursday attacked and killed Reverend Father David Tanko, a catholic priest at Kufai Amadu in Takum, Taraba State.
According to the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) Hammawa, in an interview with newsmen in Jalingo, described the killing of the priest as shocking.
The Bishop said Fr Tanko was killed between Kasuan Haske and Tortsee on his way to Amadu from Takum in Takum Local Government Council of Taraba.
He said “We received the news of his death with shock and great sadness, the diocese is mourning.
“We have been preaching peace and making efforts to bring the parties that were enmeshed in crisis in the area together for a round table discussion.
”For a priest who has been preaching peace to be killed in this most gruesome manner is pathetic, to say the least, a priest belongs to all.
“For now, we are not pointing accusing finger at any group for being responsible.’’
The Bishop told NAN that the state Police Command had told him that they were investigating the case.
“We pray that the perpetrators will be brought to justice.
“Our basic concern now is to give him a befitting burial. We don’t want any group to go on reprisal.
“Going on reprisal will only worsen the situation,” he added.
Hammawa said that the wake in honor of the priest will hold on Monday, Sept 2, 2019, while the burial would take place on Tuesday at the Diocesan Cemetery in Jalingo.
Source: pointernews
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BY Master Reporters
There is an ongoing protest over murder of women by Fulani herdsmen in Enugu State.
Eye-witness reports that youth has blocked major roads in the state in protest of the incessant killings by Fulani herdsmen in the state.
More details soon….
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Delta State government is to set up community vigilantes to protect women going to farms from criminal herdsmen attack.
VANGUARD reports that Senior Special Assistant to the governor of the state, Mr Daniel Ezekiel, disclosed this in Warri, warning herdsmen in the state with a mind for criminal activities, such as kidnapping, to leave the area.
He said the state would continue to provide safe haven for herdsmen doing legitimate business in the area, adding that the government, through the community vigilante, will also put an end to criminal activities of the herdsmen on roads in the state.
He said: “Our people are facing a serious herdsmen attacks in the recent times, the state is working assiduously to nip it in the bud and special task force, including community vigilantes, will soon be put in place to forestall the deadly herdsmen attacks on our highways and communities as to create safe environment for our communities and farmers to go about their normal duties without any molestation.”
He also warned cultists in the state to repent or be ready to face the full weight of the law, adding that the state government had devised measures to curtail its spread and also arrest anyone caught over such act.
He said the government would also take steps to protect waterways from pirates, adding that it would collaborate with security operatives in all the moves.
— Opinion leaders hail move —
Meanwhile, some opinion leaders in the state have hailed the move, saying it was long overdue.
Former presidential aspirant on the platform of All Progressives Congress, APC, Alhaji Mumakhai Unagha, called on communities to work out modalities to protect their women who go to farms from the criminal herdsmen.
He said: “I think this is a welcome development provided it is done with utmost sincerity. The second issue is that we should go beyond vigilante alone, each community should also defend her women from harassment in their farms.
“The state governor should ensure the vigilantes are paid for the job,” he said.
President, Ijaw Youth Council, Mr Eric Omare, and President, Ijaw Peoples Development Initiative, IPDI, Mr Austin Ozobo, said it was a laudable move, adding that it will save communities from harassment.
“It will be laudable since they will work with existing security agencies. It will provide safety in our farms and fishing ponds,” Ozobo said.
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There was panic in Agbala in Owerri North Local Government Area of Imo State on Tuesday after two Fulani herdsmen were stabbed during a quarrel between them.
The two herdsmen, who were rushed to the emergency unit of the Federal Medical Center, Owerri owing to the gravity of injuries they sustained, were rescued by villagers.
A community source told our correspondent that the development which occurred on Monday night would have escalated if not that another herder witnessed it.
The source said “This issue would have escalated if not that another Fulani herdsman witnessed it.
“What happened was that a Fulani herdsman had gone into the bush where his kinsman and his cows were staying and stabbed him. While the man was sleeping, he stabbed him mercilessly. He left with his victim’s cows after he thought that he was dead.
“To his disadvantage, another Fulani herdsman who was in the bush quickly alerted other Fulani herdsmen (nearby). They monitored him until the herdsmen arrived. On their arrival, they first recovered the stolen cows before stabbing him countlessly.”
“It was villagers who alerted the police. The man was rescued and the two rushed to the emergency unit of FMC, Owerri.”
The source said that it would be a miracle if the two survive, as their conditions were said to be critical.
The Police spokesperson in the state, Orlando Ikeokwu, said that the two herders were responding to treatments at the hospital.
He said that it was policemen from the Agbala Police Division who rushed the herders to hospital following a distress call from people.
Ikeokwu said that the Fulani herdsmen had a disagreement over their cows.
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BAYELSA State government has said Bayelsa land is strictly for development purposes and not for Rural Grazing Area, RUGA.
Governor Seriake Dickson who said that the policy of RUGA settlement was inimical to national unity and cohesion described it as provocative, divisive and unhelpful.
He said that Bayelsa under his leadership would not give out any inch of its territory for the establishment of any such RUGA settlement as proposed by the Federal Government.
He said, “I said it some days ago and I’m saying it again that Bayelsa will not be part of RUGA. That is a most provocative, divisive and unhelpful policy. We call for the immediate cancellation of that policy.
“Under me as leader of this state, Bayelsa will not have even an inch of land available for any RUGA settlement. It will not be allowed and will be challenged.
“People should be encouraged to go into ranching as a business and not be moving around causing problems and mayhem. That’s what we will support, not RUGA settlements. Do we have Ijaw fishermen settlements in other states?”
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Some regional political pressure groups including Afenifere, the Middle Belt Forum, and the Pan-Niger Delta Forum, have opposed the plan to revisit the Water Resources Bill by the Senate. They described the plan as “internal colonialism and another ‘Rural Grazing Area in disguise.”
There are strong indications that the Federal Government may soon re-introduce the controversial bill, which was rejected by the 8th Senate.
The President of the Senate, Ahmad Lawan, had last Monday hinted that the National Assembly would work out an arrangement to re-introduce the bill, which seeks to concentrate the control of water resources around Rivers Niger and Benue which cut across 19 states, in the hands of the Federal Government.
However, senators in the 9th National Assembly are divided over the plot to reintroduce the bill, which aside from making the Federal Government to be in control of water resources, would also make lands around the water resources to be taken over by the central government.
The affected states are Lagos, Ondo, Ogun, Edo, Delta, Kwara, Kogi, Benue, Anambra, Enugu, Akwa Ibom, Adamawa, Taraba, Nasarawa, Niger, Imo, Rivers, Bayelsa, Plateau and Kebbi.
Lawan specifically called on the Executive to re-present the bill to the National Assembly for instant legislative approval
But the spokesperson for the pan-Yoruba group, Afenifere, Yinka Odumakin, alleged that the planned re-introduction of the bill was part of the agenda of a section of the country to dominate the rest.
Odumakin said, “The Senate is working to discredit itself as a rubber-stamp assembly and going overboard about the execution of the domination agenda. They should be very careful.
“The bill in the 8th assembly was shut down, but now they have a rubber-stamp assembly in place. It is RUGA in disguise; the other day, the Senate President was calling for the amendment to the Land Use Act; it is part of their internal colonialism agenda. They (FG) have not initiated one thing that could unite Nigerians.”
Speaking in the same vein, the Middle Belt Forum President, Dr Bitrus Pogu, warned against the re-introduction of the bill, stating that it was dropped by the 8th National Assembly because it saw the inherent dangers in the bill if passed into law.
He stated that the bill, just like the RUGA initiative, was meant to hand over the waterways and surrounding lands to Fulani herdsmen, thereby dispossessing communities of their ancestral lands.
Pogu said, “We condemn it in totality. The 8th Senate saw the dangers and refused to pass the bill. The bill if passed into law would not only take the waterways, but also the lands around the waterways and rivers.
“Already, there are so many communities that were created deliberately around the rivers and waterways and many of the inhabitants are not Nigerians.
“It is just like the RUGA programme. It is meant to take over lands and deprive communities of their ancestral lands and the Federal Government, as in the case of RUGA, would give these to Fulani herdsmen and therefore compound our (security) crisis.”
He admonished lawmakers from the Middle Belt region and other parts of the country to shoot down the bill whenever it was revisited in the National Assembly.
Also, the PANDEF National Secretary, Dr Alfred Mulade, who said the water bill would divide and further jeopardise the nation, emphasizing that it portended grave danger for the Niger Delta region and the southern part of the country.
“The proposed bill will further encroach on the land and other timeless heritage of the Niger Delta people. It is a strategy for dispossession,” he alleged.
The President of the Ijaw Youth Council, Mr Eric Omare, also opposed the reintroduction of the bill, saying it is against the spirit of federalism.
He said, “The proposed bill is anti-federalism and it is also against the corporate existence of peace and security in this country. As a people and as an organisation, we are vehemently opposed to the reintroduction of that bill for whatever hidden agenda. We warn against its being passed into law.”
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Buhari and CAN
The Catholic bishops have advised the federal government to stop treating the menace of killer herdsmen and other crimes with levity, noting that such disposition of the government was creating panic and fear among Nigerians.
They said it was sad that the government has not even shown a clear pattern to secure the lives of the people and through which those perpetrating the acts can be apprehended and punished.
The Catholic Bishops also appealed to the Federal Government to halt the attempt to license and impose tax on places of worship in the country, disclosing that they suspect the government as having a hidden agenda regarding the proposed action.
The clergymen said these in a communique issued and read by the Metropolitan Bishop of Ibadan and the President of the Nigeria Catholic Conference, Ibadan Ecclesiastical Province, Gabriel Abegunrin, after their meeting held at the Pope John Paul II Pastoral Centre in Ado-Ekiti, the Ekiti state capital on Tuesday.
The Catholic Bishops called on the governments of West African sub-region to invest more in youth development to reduce crimes like illegal migration, prostitution, kidnapping and other social menaces.
“When this insecurity started, it was one corner of the country, but now it has gone around the geopolitical zones, what is government doing. If there is no security, there is no reason for government to exist.
“It is unfortunate that Nigerians wake up each day to lament woeful news of killings, lynching, kidnappings and brigandage in the country. Many people including priests have fallen victims to this tragically insecure environment.
“The lack of clear pattern of punishing crimes and lip service commitment to the protection of lives and property on the part of the federal government and security agencies have made many Nigerians living in fear day to day.
“There seems to be no end in sight especially with allegations of killings by Fulani herdsmen being left unattended to. Time is running out for Nigeria if the security is not improved. We call on governments, traditional and other civil authorities to please save our country,” they pleaded.
On the reported crimes of abduction of oneself, and jailing of priests for rape, the Bishops said these were manifestations of the total rot in the Nigerian society and loss of family values, stressing that all the citizens must share in the blame.
“It is sad that we are losing our core family values. We must take care of our children and imbibe the culture of being our brother’s keepers like we had before, because what is happening today has to do with our backgrounds.
“We know the economic situation calls for us to overwork ourselves, but parents must look for time to take care of their children. This is the only way we can rid our society of evils and have a brighter future”, they said.
The Bishops, however, commended governments on their improved commitment to the payment of workers’ salaries and pensions.
On the Federal Government’s directive through the Ministry of Interior to license places of worships for celebration of marriages and issuing of marriage certificates, the Bishops said such a proposal needed to be approached with caution and should be given a second thought, especially as concerns imposition of annual levies on these institutions.
“Contemporary circumstances in Nigeria demand that government must approach religious matters with utmost caution, do as not to be considered partisan and partial on national issues.”
The Bishops warned the federal government against taking steps that could tinker with the freedom of the press, insisting that the media should not be gagged under any guise.
“Only courageous pressmen can now come out boldly to talk. But must all work hard and remove whatever that is working against the freedom of the press. Government must give the press that full freedom for them to be able to speak the truth to power,” they said.
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Maiharaji Altine, Gusau
Zamfara State Governor Bello Matawalle will grant 100 Fulani bandits currently in detention at Gusau prison amnesty as part of the peace process in the state.
This was disclosed by the governor when he received the representatives of the Fulani community who paid him a courtesy call at Government House in Gusau on Tuesday.
Matawalle, according his media aide, Alhaji Zailani Bappa, lamented the criminalisation of Fulani in parts of the country.
“I am one of you and I know you are not terrorists. What is happening today has a cause and we are determined to address it with your cooperation,” Bappa quoted the governor as saying.
To ensure peace in the North-West, Matawalle said governors in the zone decided to ban the vigilante group fighting bandits in the area.
He called on all Fulani in the state not to believe those telling them that the state government was not sincere about the peace process.
He said, “You can see now you are here not only in Gusau, but at Government House. Nobody will arrest you or harm you. Our aim is to have a lasting peace in our dear state.”
Earlier, the representatives of Fulani in the state, who spoke through Baba Bello, commended the governor and his commitment to the peace process.
Bello promised that the bandits in the state would surrender their weapons.
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On Saturday, the youth wing of the Ohanaeze Ndigbo said it would drive out killer Fulani herdsmen from the forests in all the 95 local government areas in the South-East.
The President-General of the Ohanaeze Ndigbo Youth Council Worldwide, Okechukwu Isiguzoro, revealed, said the decision was necessitated by the killing of a Catholic priest, Rev Fr Paul Offu, by suspected herdsmen along the Ihe-Agbudu Road in Agwu Local Government Area of Enugu State on August 1, Punch reports.
The youth group alleged that there were pending plans to take lives of more church leaders in the South-East, urging that steps should be taken to avert the impending situation.
Isiguzoro appealed with all Biafra agitators, Igbo youths, and volunteer security groups to enter the forests to smoke out killer Fulani herdsmen from the South-East.
In his words: “We were shocked to read about the murder of a Catholic priest, Rev Fr Paul Offu, who was shot dead by hoodlums suspected to be the notorious and murderous criminal herdsmen along Ihe-Agbudu Road in Agwu Local Government Area on August 1, 2019.
“This is a calculated but provocative action with evil intent aimed at rubbishing the proposed establishment of forest guards and Community Neighbourhood Watch by the South-East governors.
“With the rising tension in the southern Nigeria, it is time for us to drive out all the remnants of killer herdsmen hiding in all the forest reserve areas across the 95 local government areas of the South-East. This is a clarion call to Igbo youths, all Biafra agitators and volunteer groups to do the needful across the bushes and forests in search of the killer herdsmen in the South-East to drive them out.
“These volunteer youths will serve as temporary forestry guardsmen until we pressurise the South-East governors to fund them. Their mandate will be to take decisive actions against any armed herdsmen found, and they should be handed over to security agents.”
The Ohanaeze youths also called on the Federal government, especially the office of the Vice President, to protect Christians all over the country.
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