The chaos and impression created within the federal republic and in the thoughts of Nigeria generally, in the past few years regarding the activities and manners with which herdsmen go about their occupations, has become a thing of utmost concern.
Many Nigerian citizens no longer perceive herdsmen to be harmless and innocent herders who simply go about their nomadic and simple lives of feeding their livestock, because of so many negative stories and reports that have been brought to the awareness of the general populace about them.
News of destructions of farmlands, clashes with farmers, killings and invasions of small towns and villages and communities have been the recent bane associated with herdsmen all over the country. In fact, in some extreme cases, and within certain local parlance, many people believe these herdsmen to be linked to terrorist groups and attacks, an opinion which though is yet to be legally verified.
Just recently, the Arewa Youths Consultative Forum, AYCF, precisely on Tuesday 26 of January 2021 vented their anger on the activities and perceived impunity of the Fulani herdsmen within the county by rubbishing the remarks by the Miyetti Allah Kautal Hore that Fulani herdsmen own all the lands in Nigeria.
The National President of the AYCF Shettima insisted that nobody owns any land in Nigeria. He made this comment while speaking with DAILY POST, and made clarifications that the government owns all the lands in the country, contrary to the group’s remark.
Meanwhile Bello Abdullahi Bodejo, the group leader, had earlier made the remark while insisting that no power within the country, can remove Fulani herdsmen from any forests in any state.
It was reported that Bodejo made the above comments in reaction to the one week ultimatum given to Fulani herdsmen in Ondo forests by the state Governor, His Excellency, Rotimi Akeredolu.
Furthermore, with the expiration of the state’s governor’s ultimatum which expired yesterday, Southwest governors had banned all forms of open grazing in the region.
Shettima registered his displeasure about the recent developments saying: “That is a stupid talk, nobody own lands, the government owns them.
“The quit notice issued was a bit disturbing in this era when there is much suspicion across the board, at a time we are faced with a lot of challenges.
“At a time we are supposed to clamor for unity, some interest came and started talking of a quit notice against citizens of our country, it’s disturbing especially when it is coming from a sitting governor who is a learned person, it’s unfortunate.
“However, I’m happy the issue is being resolved amicably during a meeting between the Southwest governors and Miyetti Allah yesterday.
“I understand they had a meeting with Miyetti Allah yesterday, they arrived at a conclusion and I hope that will be sustained and they stand by the rules and hope such a thing never repeats itself again.”
It is obvious that this saga is not going to go away anytime soon as the various parties and groups involved, would want to lay claim to their fundamental rights within the law to practice their occupations within the country while the other would insist on their right to freedom and protection of their territory lives and properties.
However in the opinion of many the federal government needs to wade in to avoid the issue from spiralling out of control. The present administration must be very careful in handling this precarious situation in other to avoid any form of violence, or chaos as witnessed with the ugly events of the #endSARs protest which occurred towards the end of the year. 2020.
Gift Joseph Okpakorese
Staff Writer
