. Says S/W govs should include Fulani vigilantes
Sarkin Fulani of Oyo state, Alhaji Salihu Kadiri, has said that the Fulani across the South west states are not in support of the composition of the South west region joint security outfit, Operation Amotekun .
Alhaji Kadiri who stated this during a chat with journalist Sunday at the inauguration of the newly elected Oyo state NUJ Exco/ End of the year party for NUJ members in the state held at the Jogor Centre, in Ibadan said going by the present composition of the regional security outfit, it “is more sectional and purposely against Fulani herders”.
Alhaji Kadiri stated that with its guidelines and mode of operations , it is obvious that Amotekun security outfit ” is one sided and needs to be put in place properly for effective operation.
The Seriki Fulani of Oyo state stated that there is the need for the South west governors to ensure the inclusion of Fulanis and other ethnic militia in the region among those to be recruited for Amotekun .
He stated that if truly Operation Amotekun is for the security of people in the South west ,the composition must be for all and not for only the Yorubas militia groups like the OPC, Agbekoya, and others alone.
“For now, we, the Fulanis in the South west are not in support of Operation Amotekun. With its present composition, Amotekun look more sectional, it looks as if it meant to fight the Fulani herders who the farmers are accusing of using their cows to destroy their farms. That is the truth,” he said.
The Seriki Fulani pointed out that there are Fulani vigilante groups in and across the South west states that have all what it takes to be among the groups that can be co opted into the joint South west security outfit .
Accusing the South West governors of being too hasty with the establishment of Operation Amotekun, he said if Fulani vigilante group members are recruited into Amotekun, they will be in the best position to monitor the herders and their activities as well as assist in curbing crimes in their various jurisdictions and localities.
“We have Fulani vigilante groups across all the South west states, let them be included and be part of the Amotekun security outfit, it is not that only the OPC , Agbekoya people that should be in Amotekun. Some of us were born here in Yorubaland, nothing stops the governors from recruiting the Fulanis and even those from other tribes into Amotekun if it is not for sectional purpose.”