President Muhammadu Buhari has been advised to handle the issue of Fulani herders/farmers with utmost caution for peace to reign in the country.
This advice was given in Lagos by Chief Adesunbo Onitiri, a renowned socio-political activist and critic in a press statement yesterday.
He said the roaming Fulani herders occupying farmlands in Yorubaland and other southern states should also be called to order, to avoid unnecessary incessant bloody clashes.
“The forests the herders are forcibly trying to occupy already belong to the natives. Such land cannot be occupied by force.
They certainly need permission of the natives. Force cannot bring peace, stressed.
Chief Onitiri said it is also not acceptable that the Fulani herders bear sophisticated weapons like Ak 47 guns without license which is very illegal. When has a set of tribe above our laws, he asked.
“Amotekun security members are not allowed to bear weapons. How come the killer herders openly bear weapons in our forests?
“The problem is that killer-herdsmen create insecurity in the south. Kidnapping, robbery, maiming and killings of our people are on the rise everyday. That is why the government needs to declare the Fulani killer-Herdsmen as”Terrorist Group”, he said.
“Granted that every Nigerian is free to inhabit in any part of the country but it should be in peace and Not in the forest. Certainly not to take over the farmland of the natives without permission.
Chief Onitiri reminded President Buhari of his oath to defend our constitution and to be President to all. Certainly not a sectional President.
Chief Onitiri added that there was need for the herders to adopt modern form of farming as it operates in advanced technologies where there is no more open grazing.