Alaafin Writes Buhari on Fulani herdsmen crisis
The Alaafin of Oyo, Oba Lamidi Adeyemi has reacted to the alleged siege on Yoruba land by Fulani herdsmen with allegations of killing, kidnapping, raping and other heinous crimes.
The top monarch via a Save Our Soul message to President Muhammadu Buhari gave a stern warning that the people were fast-losing their patience.
According to him, the pseudo herders sometimes in military uniform, have created a climate of fear and uncertainty in Yoruba land, with the Federal Government and security agencies showing signs of ambivalence and helplessness as the country slides to anarchy.
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In his letter titled “Yoruba question in Nigeria’s conundrum”, the monarch said the current situation amounted to a serious national emergency because at a time the rest of the world were making appreciable progress in providing enhanced standard of living, Nigerians were living under the fear of banditry, brigandage, rape, kidnapping and terrorism.
Oba Adeyemi further pointed that Southwest is scared and worried about the outrageous audacity and effrontery of these criminal elements in carrying out their activities and without any challenge by security operatives,” Oba Adeyemi warned.
“Apart from massive destruction of farms and crops planted on them, the new wave of Fulani, pretending and disguising as herders have unleashed a reign of terror on Yoruba land. They destroy crops, they kidnap men and women, violate and rape our women, right in the presence of their husbands.
“What this portends is definitely more than the simplistic interpretation of farmers/herders’ clash but the deliberate acts of hostility and criminality.
“What makes it worrisome is the fact that for reasons best known to the police establishment, they have not been apprehending or pretend to be in the defence of victims.
“There is always a tendency to blame the victims and demonstrate helplessness in apprehending and bringing perpetrators to book to face the full wrath of the law.”
“It is even said, Mr President that these criminal pseudo herders go about their nefarious activities in broad daylight and many times in military uniform. They carry sophisticated weapons, the likes of which are only available to state actors.
“There seems to be no doubt that the security apparatus of the country is both overstretched and rustic. The philosophy of policing the State, protecting lives and property and ensuring the existence of atmosphere that is conducive to life and living in Nigeria is lost on the security personnel.
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“In Yoruba land, we are scared and worried about the outrageous audacity and effrontery of these criminal elements in carrying out their activities and without any challenge by security operatives. In situations, where money exchanged hands, the police are adequately equipped to trace every paper money issued by the Central Bank of Nigeria.
“Intelligence gathering concerning money paid as ransom should lead, finally to these criminals since they would eventually make transactions with the proceeds of their illicit and criminal activities.” insecurity in Yoruba land.”
