The Afenifere Renewal Group has condemned the proposal by the Northern Governors’ Forum to open a register for immigrant Fulani herdsmen, whom the group said the NGF had identified as threats to Nigeria’s security.
A statement by ARG’s Publicity Secretary, Kunle Famoriyo, on Friday, said its position was underscored by “observations that the NGF had in times past stridently denied culpability of these killers, rising to their defence many times.”
The statement read in part, “ARG also notes that herdsmen currently constitute a huge threat, not only to lives, but to food security in the South-West. Our people, who are largely smallholding farmers, cannot work at their full capacity, living at the mercy of cows and conniving policemen.
“This has aggravated the sweeping poverty in Nigeria and has displaced many of our people. ARG is therefore gravely concerned that state governors who swore to protect Nigeria’s constitution are the ones promoting alien interest. Or what logic is there in opening a register for agents of external aggression?”
PUNCH
