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.
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.
Information available to us was that Ige was abducted by the Fulani herdsmen after several of their efforts to enter into Chief Falae’s farm were repelled by our members who have been watching over the farm after the abduction of Chief False by these same people.
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.
Let it be known that we have taken this 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.
Meanwhile, it has come to our notice that a bill tagged “The Fulani National Grazing Reserve”, is presently before t National Assembly. The bill has successfully scaled through second reading in both the Senate and the House of Representatives. For it to become law is to pass through the third reading.
The bill seeks provide for the establishment of a national grazing reserves and stock routes. It is sponsored by Senator Zainab Kure.
The Bill proposes to establish a National Grazing Reserve Commission (NGRC) for the country. The NGRC will be charged with the responsibility of using funds received from the Federal Government to forcefully acquire farmlands from Nigerians in all the 36 States of the country, develop same at Government expense through the provision of bore holes, water reservoirs, etc; for the exclusive use of nomadic cattle rearers.
Without any doubt, this 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.
We want to use this opportunity to call on President Muhammadu Buhari to come out and condemn these dastardly acts by Fulani herdsmen across the country.
We want the police to fish out the killers of Ayodele Ige, which is the only way to cushion our loss.
And let the President know that the killings in Agatuland and other parts of the country cannot continue forever. It is only a matter of time before the people stand up to defend themselves.
And for the family of Ayodele Ige, the entire members and leaders of OPC share in your pain over this irreparable loss.
However, we want to assure you that we would not rest until those behind this wicked act are brought to justice.
• Comrade Ogunsanya Pius,
Ondo State Coordinator of Oodua People’s Congress.
