Nobel Laureate, Prof. Wole Soyinka says Nigeria must quickly find a solution to the clashes between herdsmen and farmers stoking ethnic tensions in the land.
The octogenarian said failure to do this could plunge the nation into civil war.
Soyinka spoke in an interview with BBC Pidgin on Saturday.
His comment came as Fulani herdsmen were issued with eviction notices in some parts of the South-West in recent times.
The Governor of Ondo State, Rotimi Akeredolu had in January issued a one-week notice for Fulani herdsmen to vacate the state’s forest reserves.
He cited insecurity as the reason for the vacation order.
About the same time, Yoruba activist, Sunday Adeyemo aka Sunday Igboho ordered Fulani residents of Igangan community in Ibarapa North local government area of Oyo State to leave within a week.
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He supervised the eviction of the Fulani residents at the expiration of the order.
Reacting, Soyinka said, “My fear is that it could degenerate into violence that ends up in—I hate to use the word—a civil war unless we take action. I’m glad that governors are already dialoguing with groups like Miyetti Allah (cattle breeders).
“I’m also glad that they’re already discussing agreeing to obey the rules and that other groups are already liaising. I think we need to ensure they reach a consensus that will be fair to all parties.
“We’re struggling against an enemy that believes in acting the way they please. They believe they have immunity or that nothing can happen to them. That is why, in my own state, you find a soldier taking the side of an enemy.
“They actually escort killers, rapists, raiders while flogging the victims. That wouldn’t happen if the people are conscious of the nature of their enemy and are encouraged to collaborate with the security forces.”