The Aare Ona Kankanfo of Yoruba land and the National Coordinator of the Oodua Peoples Congress, Gani Adams, has reacted to the ongoing security challenges in the south-west region of the country, saying that a lot of ugly things are happening.
In an exclusive interview with Channel Television, Mr Gani noted that he had foreseen some of the security challenges, nearly three years ago and subsequently, he alerted the leaders of the southwest states to be alert.
According to him, it was the warning that later on informed the birthing of the southwest security outfit now known as Amotekun.
“After about one year three months, the southwest governors organised a security summit, which gave birth to Amotekun. The structure started operating about two months ago,” the Yoruba leader said.
He also blamed the insecurity witnessed in the region on those he described as criminal Fulani herdsmen, saying the majority of the lands belonging to the Yoruba’s have now been seriously invaded.
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“If you know what is happening in Akoko South West, its not funny at all. Most of the criminal Fulani herdsmen have occupied it,” Mr Gani said.
“So, I think all hands must be on deck to make sure this ugly incident is taken care of.
“It is a serious invasion and we have been seriously infiltrated and we have traced the hand of conquest from some Fulani herdsmen because we have some Fulanis that have been living with us peacefully for the past 100 years (about two or three generations of Fulanis living with us peacefully) but for the past seven years, we have now noticed strange things from the Fulani tribe. They have discouraged the Yoruba people from farming and if care is not taken, within one year there will be a famine in Yorubaland”.
Quit Notices
His comments come days after tensions escalated in the Ibarapa axis of Oyo State where an indigene Sunday Igboho had given Fulanis in the area an ultimatum to leave following allegations of criminality.
Videos shared on social media showed Igboho holding a well-attended rally where he swore to drive out Fulani herdsmen from the entire Yorubaland for causing insecurity and banditry.
However, in reaction, Makinde said his government and security agencies need not wage war against any particular ethnic group but against criminal elements, irrespective of their tribes, religions, or creed.
The governor added that his administration would not allow anyone to threaten the peace of the state by acting unlawfully and saying things that are alien to the Nigerian Constitution, noting that acts that can cause chaos in the state will not be accepted.
His Ondo State counterpart, Governor Rotimi Akeredolu had also earlier issued a quit notice to the criminal herdsmen who he noted had infiltrated the forest reserves.
