Gbenga Adeniji
A renowned historian, Prof Banji Akintoye; Gen. C. R. U. Ihekire (retd.); and the Director of a Nigerian-based humanitarian group, Mr. Mark Lipdo, have urged youths in the southern region of the country and the Middle Belt to defend their land from killer Fulani herdsmen.
The trio spoke in Lagos on Saturday at the IFE 12 maiden national colloquium titled ‘Herdsmen as threat to national security.’
Akintoye, who lamented the incessant killings of innocent Nigerians by rampaging Fulani herdsmen, said the Fulani held onto an old belief that they were not accepted anywhere and thus must be hostile to others.
He said, “They believe they are migrant citizens anywhere and can go anywhere. They are deliberately indoctrinated and believe they own the land. It is not about religion, religion is just the instrument. It is not also about the land for cattle.
“Afenifere got complaints of Fulani settlements in Yorubaland. There are 175 Fulani settlements in Yorubaland including Kogi and Kwara states and this portends danger.’’
Alleging that the attacks on the Middle Belt were designed to overrun the region, Akintoye added, ‘‘The plan is to face the South after the Middle Belt is overrun. But we in the South must find a way to support the Middle Belt.’’
He also called on the southern and Middle Belt youths to support their leaders to make the regions strong.
Ihekire, in his submissions, noted that what the country was currently battling with were neither herdsmen nor religion.
He said, “Both herdsmen and cows have become facilitators to an agenda. We have to review the federalism we are practising. There is an attempt by the Fulani and Kanuri to reclaim the country.
“They are calling for the disarming of all militias so that there would be no opposition. We are back to ancient times where people take land by conquest.’’
Ihekire noted that the Fulani were opposed to seeing cattle grazing as a private business and refused to change their old ways of doing the business.
Lipdo, who stated that the southern and Middle Belt would be cheated if they failed to defend their land, said everybody in Nigeria should have the right to live regardless of their religious leanings.
He stated, “Today, outright violence targeting ethnic minorities has defied solutions. Since President Muhammadu Buhari came 32 months ago, there have been 431 attacks which left 3795 people dead.’’
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