Governor Nasir El-Rufai of Kaduna State in Northwest Nigeria has condemned the unlawful eviction of Fulani herdsmen from some states in the country.
Oyo and Ondo States have been in the news lately over the moves to check the activities of some herdsmen alleged to be responsible for the spate of insecurity in their communities.
Governor Rotimi Akeredolu of Ondo State had asked herdsmen to vacate the state’s forest reserves. He said the reserves were being used as criminal hideouts.
Sunday Adeyemo, well known as Sunday Igboho, had also issued a quit notice to herdsmen accused of sundry crimes in the Ibarapa area of Oyo.
Upon the expiration of the ultimatum, the home of the Seriki Fulani in the area was attacked.
Consequently, the Seriki Fulani, who said his house was destroyed and several cars parked within his compound burnt, fled the area for Ilorin in Kwara State with his family.
On Monday, Igboho stormed Ogun, demanding that Fulani herdsmen leave the state.
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Residents in some other states, including Edo, have also demanded that herders vacate their communities.
In a statement late Wednesday, El-Rufai urged his colleagues to take a tough stance against people evicting other citizens.
The governor also called on his colleagues to call on residents in their states to respect law, order and the rights of all citizens to live in peace and security.
He noted that it is time for governments and leaders at all levels to step in, exercise firm action, engage people and ensure that “the responsibility these dire times demand are not derailed by those who only see opportunity for their own myopic agendas.”
El-Rufai also urged members of the National Assembly to expedite action on the Constitutional amendments that would usher in State and community policing, adding that this is the ultimate solution for effective law enforcement nationwide.
“The government of Kaduna State notes with grave concern, video clips circulating on social media platforms like WhatsApp in which citizens of a particular ethnicity are being massacred and their properties destroyed in parts of Nigeria. This is coming amidst avoidable rhetoric, frenzied ethnic profiling and unlawful eviction of citizens from their places of domicile,” the governor said.
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“Many citizens of Kaduna State have reached out to me as their governor to confirm the authenticity of these video clips. Some allege that these incidents have the support of leaders of the places where attacks have occurred. While I am unable to confirm the authenticity of the video clips, their impact on the peaceful coexistence of our people is a source of concern.
“On behalf of the Government of Kaduna State, I call on all Nigerians living in our State to respect law and order and the rights of all citizens to live in peace and security wherever they reside or work. I appeal to my colleagues governing other States in our country to make similar statements, and disavow these attacks and massacres.
“We must avoid anarchy and vigorously promote the rule of law and the right of all citizens to life, liberty and livelihoods wherever they choose to reside. Elected and appointed public leaders across the country must act on their constitutional obligations to protect all citizens, uphold order, and contribute to a climate for peaceful resolution of all issues.
“In Kaduna State, we are learning from decades of unfortunate and needless experiences. We have faced the tragic manifestations of the indigene-settler divide. This has been compounded by criminal activities that often have fatal consequences. But the victims of criminal actions like banditry and kidnapping in our state cut across all ethnic and religious groups. We have resisted the attempt to tar all members of any ethnic group for the criminal actions of some of their members. At all times, our government has upheld the right of every citizen to live and pursue legitimate livelihoods wherever they choose.
“This is why we ordered the arrest of persons who issued an unlawful eviction notice to our citizens of a certain ethnicity in 2017. The impunity and calculated disregard for a common humanity that prompted such irresponsible rhetoric is sadly at play again.
“The genuine fears felt by people across the country for their safety and security imposes a responsibility on all leaders to ensure that these anxieties are assuaged and urgent steps taken to relieve human misery and stop the criminal actions that menace our citizens and their property. This should be the top priority.
“It is time for governments and leaders at all levels to step in, exercise firm action, engage people and ensure that the responsibility these dire times demand are not derailed by those who only see opportunity for their own myopic agendas. We cannot allow, by inaction or otherwise, the reign of anarchy where fear creates a tragic momentum of violence, blurring the lines between victims and perpetrators and complicating a difficult moment. We urge our representatives in the National Assembly to expedite action on the Constitutional amendments that would usher in State and community policing as this is the ultimate panacea for effective law enforcement nationwide.
“We should not allow the criminal actions of insurgents and bandits to tear our country apart. We should not be seduced into the dangerous passion of blaming innocents, declaring them guilty of the crimes of others, evicting them, killing and destroying their property. In difficult times, we must uphold the right of everyone to live, with security and safety. The frenzy of ethnic labelling makes solutions difficult and can only guarantee disorder, violence and pain.
“Governments and security agencies must rein in all non-state actors, tackle hateful rhetoric and protect all communities. Those that engage in criminal acts must be arrested and prosecuted without regard to their ethnic or religious persuasion. Civic leaders, across ethnic and religious lines, in all our communities should also help calm the heated passions of the moment, lest the few destroy the many, turning victims of crime against each other, to the delight of those who do not mean well. We cannot quench one fire by setting more places ablaze. Let us reject the path of disorder, marginalise, expose and prosecute all criminals and promote peace.”
© ControlTV 2021.
