- Elders of Akure land call on Ondo state police to be on their feet to prevent attacks on indigenes' farm land by suspected herdsmen
- The elders say Akure has no land for cattle colonies
- The elders suggest that the word colony is more political than economic
After the burning of Chief Olu Falae's farm by suspected herdsmen, some elders of Akureland on Tuesday, January 23, made a warning to attackers to refrain from such act in order to avoid a clash between the indigenes of Akure and the herdsmen.
The elders also called on all security forces in Ondo to embark on serious surveillance, so as to curb frequent attacks by suspected herdsmen.
READ ALSO: Why Nigerians should be patient with President Muhammadu Buhari - Femi Adesina
Professor Olu Agbi, the Asiwaju of Akureland and a former ambassador to Australia, while reading the elders' address to reporters in Akure, condemned the attacks by suspected herdsmen on farms, especially Olu Falae's farm.
According to the elders, the government should wake up and checkmate the activities of herdsmen throughout the nation before things go out of hand completely.
Agbi said:“Since his (Falae) release and the conviction of the suspects, the farm of the senior citizen has been a subject of attacks by herdsmen. Apart from killing people on his farm, neighbouring farms have been subject of attacks by these gun-wielding herdsmen.
“The recent burning of Chief Olu Falae’s plantation by these same elements calls for worry. We call on the security agencies to protect the life and property of Chief Falae.
READ ALSO: Nigerian Air Force redeploys Air Officers Commanding, 14 other senior officers
“We are making this appeal not only because he is an Akure chief but to prevent a tribal war as the Olu of Ilu Abo’s stature transcends Akure and Yorubaland.
“We warn the herdsmen not to create an opportunity for a civil war because any further attack on Chief Olu Falae or his farm would be deemed as casus belli.”
The elders condemned the presidency's proposal to create cattle colonies across the nation, stressing that Akura as a state has no land for such endeavour.
The elders stated: “The word colony has political connotation not economic. A colony is a political entity which someone says he wants to create in the territory of another; that is provocation; that is a terrible thing for anybody to contemplate. I can tell you that Akure does not have land to be colonised.
PAY ATTENTION: Get the Latest Nigerian News Anywhere 24/7. Spend less on the Internet!
“Akure kingdom welcomes genuine farmers and agriculture entrepreneurs who want to invest in any form of farming including animal husbandry. But we do not have land for a colony.
“We did not find our fathers as slaves and let us say that we have the capacity to defend our land against Fulani herdsmen invasion.”
NAIJ.com reported that multiple reports by Nigeria’s media said a section of the farm owned by a former secretary to the federal government, Chief Olu Falae had been set on fire.
Herdsmen were being accused of torching the farm located in Ilado village, Akure north local government of Ondo state.
Victims of Herdsmen killing buried in Benue State on NAIJ.com TV
Source: Naija.ng
ROSY CREST
Wednesday, 24 January 2018