Senator Shehu Sani, who represented Kaduna Central in the 8th senate, has cried out over the inflock of returning herdsmen into Kaduna State, following tensions in the South, particularly the Southwest and South East where herders are banned from open grazing, and ordered to leave the forests.
In Ondo State in particular, Governor Rotimi Akeredolu, had given the herders a week ultimatum to leave the forests following accusations of criminal activities by some of them.
As crackdown on herdsmen intensifies in the South, the Northern Elders, had urged herders to leave the region and return back to the North.
“Everyone in Nigeria knows that in the last few days, Fulani people are being harassed, threatened and attacked, initially in the western part of the country and now the eastern part," the Director of Publicity and Advocacy of the forum, Hakeem Baba-Ahmed disclosed while appearing on Channels Television programme ‘Politics Today’.
“Some individuals and communities have taken the law into their hand that they don’t want to see the Fulani in anywhere in Nigeria, Nigerians living lawfully, pursuing a living like every other Nigerians but sadly demonized and criminalized and everybody is saying we don’t want to see Fulani, Fulani must go.
“We confirmed that there are millions of Fulani living lawfully, legally, they are not bandits, they are not kidnappers, they are not breaking any law, so there is no reason why anybody should demonize them.
“We observed that innocent people are being attacked just for being Fulani, that’s unacceptable, we also established that a lot of them in Oyo, Ondo and in some part of the east in the last two days have been threatened and attacked, a lot of cattle have been killed, so we advised the Fulani to seek protection and leave,” Baba-Ahmed said.
Following calls to move back up north, thousands of herders have reportedly returned to Kaduna State, a hotbed of clashes in the country.
Sani who is very much aware of the security problems between herdsmen and southern Kaduna people, is quick to call for action before another round of clashes begin.
He said, "The 4K Herders returned from the south should not all camp in Kaduna; Abeg Northern Governors share them according to federal allocation."
According to his tweet, over four thousand herdsmen have already moved back into the State, a situation that clearly won't end well if past issues between natives and herdsmen is anything to go by.
Comments