A university lecturer, Professor Femi Olufunmilade, has emphasised that as long as armed herdsmen are allowed to roam freely and cause deaths and destruction, Fulani people should expect more evictions across the country.
Reacting to mounting agitations for eviction of notorious criminals in Yoruba farming communities, Olufunmilade warned that Fulani would be evicted, not only in Yorubaland but across all besieged communities in Nigeria.
Olufunmilade, who is also, Director, Buratai Center for Contemporary Security Affairs, Igbinedion University, Okada in Edo State, noted that the eviction order was because people are pushed to the wall and they either defend themselves or continue to die in silence.
He said, “Yoruba are the most hospitable and tolerant ethnic group in Nigeria, in whose towns and villages you find people of diverse ethnicities, gifted land and accorded all rights and privileges of indigenes to settle, do business and live in peace.
“For these traditionally peaceful and friendly people to start fishing out specific individuals for eviction from their communities, is borne of the dangers such people pose. It’s not the result of ethnic profiling.
“Seriki Fulani in Igangan was evicted for allegedly being the kingpin of kidnappers in the area. Specific victims of his criminality like Dr. Fatai Aborode have been mentioned. Has he been interrogated and investigated by appropriate security agencies?
“Only criminals operating with impunity because of their high connections are being shown the way out in beleaguered communities. And there is a consensus in Yorubaland for the victims to evict criminals in their communities, whoever they are, where the Federal Government-controlled law enforcement agencies abdicate their duties for unclear reasons.
“This has to be so because the siege by criminals masquerading as herdsmen is now akin to organised guerrilla warfare aimed at pushing our rural dwellers, who are predominantly farmers, into the cities to form IDP camps as is the case across the north presently.
“Can you tell me one thing the Federal Government has done to check this menace? Meanwhile, Governor Abdullahi Ganduje of Kano state has provided land to settle the nomadic herdsmen. I wonder if he has gotten any help from the Federal Government.
Credit: The Sun