Pan-Yoruba socio-cultural group, Afenifere Renewal Group has urged Yoruba people to activate their communal and traditional self-defence system to combat “terrorism” from militant herdsmen and bandits.
The group made the call in a communique released at the end of a meeting at the home of its leader, Pa Reuben Fasoranti, in Akure, Ondo State on Monday.
National Publicity Secretary, Yinka Odumakin read the communique on behalf of the group.
Afenifere accused the Federal Government of complacency in tackling security challenges facing the nation, especially in the South West geopolitical zone.
It said that many militant Fulani herdsmen have invaded the zone, kidnapping and killing people at will.
Afenifere said that the failure of the Federal Government to stem the tide by arresting violent herdsmen and bandits operating across the nation, especially in Yoruba land, could drag the nation into another civil war.
The communique read in part, “The meeting reviewed the spate of killings going on across Nigeria and being perpetrated largely by Fulani herdsmen/militia the only group that are in possession of unlicensed sophisticated weapons in Nigeria today without fear of any consequence as they seem to have official backing, promotion and defence.
“The killings targeted at non-Fulani groups across the country are willful and deliberate in pursuit of expansionist and conquest agenda.
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“And most unfortunately, the government in place has betrayed perceived complicity as we are not aware of any member of the group on trial for these monumental crimes, even when Miyetti Allah has owned up to some of them.
“Instead, the regime has treated them with kid gloves, making excuses for their crimes with our Information Ministry and presidential media office being made to look like Boko Haram and Miyetti Allah media centre as they issue statements to defend these groups, even when they are not defending themselves with the Presidency equating Miyetti Allah with Afenifere and Ohanaeze to confer legitimacy on them.
“To avert this destructive scenario, we call on the Federal Government to immediately readdress its priorities in these matters and begin the process of running an inclusive country while re-defining law and order so that no citizen would take the life of another and not fear for consequences.”
Furthermore, Afenifere lauded former President Olusegun Obasanjo, Nobel Laureate Prof Wole Soyinka, Gen. David Jemibewon, Col. David Bamigboye, Ohanaeze Ndigbo, Pan Niger Delta Forum (PANDEF), Middle Belt Forum and all other patriots who have supported Obasanjo’s statement.