The Ekiti State Governor, Ayodele Fayose, has told Serikin Fulani in the state, Muhammed Abashe, that he will be held responsible for any further attack in the state.
The governor, who was furious about the recent killing of a Tiv woman in Orin Ekiti by people suspected to be Fulani herders, said Abashe had failed in providing leadership by not stopping his kinsmen from destroying farms and attacking residents under any slightest provocation.
Fayose said this at separate peace meetings held on Friday and Saturday nights with Fulani herdsmen under the aegis of the Miyetti Allah Cattle Breeders Association of Nigeria, farmers, hunters, security agencies and representatives of the Tiv community in Ado Ekiti.
He said, “If you (Fulani herders) still want to stay among us, you must accept the responsibility to ensure that none of our peoples’ farms is destroyed by herdsmen any longer. None of our people must be killed by your men, either they are strangers or those herdsmen living among us.
“If any killing or destruction of farms of our people occurs again in that area, I will ensure that I use the law to fight you, their leader, on it. This is the last warning I am giving you,” he said.
The governor said the activities of the Fulani herders had continued to stain the names of President Muhammadu Buhari and other notable Fulani leaders in the country.
Henceforth, he said Fulani herders must register with N5,000 in their host communities for identity and location.
He said, “This killing is giving Fulani people a bad name. If there are no good people among them, how would General Buhari rise to be President? There are doctors, lawyers, engineers and other notable professionals among you. This is denting their names. The greatest of men are the peace makers.
“Even though President Buhari does not send people to kill, it is spoiling his name. We are to make sure the killing stops.”
The governor said he would not compromise his efforts to shield the state from the menace of the herders.
He added, “I’m calling on the Federal Government to be firm, when actions are taken against these mindless individuals, these killings will stop. It is because they are taking it like a family affair; this is not in the interest of Nigeria. Ordinary Nigerians can’t carry AK47 or pump action guns.”
Punch
