The Arewa Consultative Forum (ACF) has called on governors of the south west to quickly apprehend those who attacked Fulani communities in the south west to forestall any attempt at counter attack from the north.
The ACF in reaction to the attack by some Yoruba youths on Alhaji Saliu Abdulkadir, the Sarkin Fulani in Oyo State stated that it was disturbed by the report that the Sarkin Fulani was attacked and driven out of his house while eleven cars and his house burnt with his family members now living in the bush.
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A statement issued by the ACF National Publicity Secretary, Emmanuel Yawe stated that it was very worried by the situation and urged all authorities concerned to act fast stressing that “If this is not done, there maybe counter attacks in the north and the country will be up in flames.”
Yawe in the statement noted that: “There are allegations that one Sunday Igboho, an agitator for Oodua Republic who issued an ultimatum giving Fulani people seven days to leave Yorubaland is the instigator of the attack. The most disturbing aspect of the attack is the allegation that the security agents who were earlier warned about it’s imminence stood by helplessly as the attack was carried out.”
The Forum called on the Federal and State Governments in the South West to move quickly to avert what it described as a social upheaval that may destabilize the whole country.
“We recall that the civil war in the 60’s started with attacks and counter attacks like this. The governments must be proactive and stop history from repeating itself. Those who carried out these attacks must be apprehended and the due process of the law allowed to take its course,” it stated.
The Forum also warned that no one has the right to expel any Nigerian from any part of the country, adding that the constitution guarantees freedom of movement to all Nigerians within the country.
The ACF, in apparent response to the Governor of Ondo state, Rotimi Akeredolu’s seven days quit notice to Fulani herders to vacate the Ondo forest asked the governor to follow the provisions of the constitution on the matter.
“Like the misguided people who ordered Bishop Kukah out of Sokoto, we make bold to inform Nigerians that nobody has the right to expel a Nigerian from a particular part of Nigeria,” he stated.
According to the statement: “Every offence has its own punishment and the Forum has not seen a law which says a Nigerian should be denied the freedom to settle anywhere and persue legitimate business according to the law.”
He said the Fulani herdsmen who are at the receiving end of the Ondo state’s recent quit order are often victims of banditry themselves. He said they are frequently attacked, kidnapped for ransom and their cattle are often rustled. “They need the protection of the state,” he further said.
