Fayose condemns arrest of 76 Igbo villagers over protest against Fulani herdsmen
.. Calls for their release
Ekiti State Governor, Mr Ayodele Fayose has condemned the arrest of 76
Igbo villagers from Ugwuneshi Autonomous community, Awgu Local
Government Area of Enugu State following a clash between the natives
and Fulani herdsmen, saying; “It has gotten to a level that lovers of
peace in Nigeria must speak out on this keg of gun powder which the
threat that the Fulani herdsmen has become.”
No fewer than 76 men from the Ugwuneshi Autonomous community were last
Thursday arrested and whisked away by “men in military uniform” after
they protested the continued destruction of their crops and farmlands
by Fulani herdsmen and their cattle who settled in the area without
permission.
Reacting to the alleged arrest, Governor Fayose, who spoke through his
Special Assistant on Public Communications and New Media, Lere
Olayinka, said President Mohammadu Buhari should address the killing
of Nigerians and destruction of farmlands by the Fulani herdsmen.
The governor, who called for the immediate and unconditional release
of the 76 Igbo villagers, said the President Mohammadu Buhari’s All
Progressives Congress (APC) federal government must not give
impression that the Fulani herdsmen were lords in other people’s
lands.
Governor Fayose said the Fulani herdsmen were giving impression that
they now own Nigeria and could perpetrate any crime and get away with
it.
He said; “It is worrisome that the Fulani herdsmen that killed over
400 Agatus in Benue State, raped women and destroyed farmlands in the
North Central, South West and South South zones of Nigeria are walking
the streets free while Ibo people, who opted to defend their sources
of livelihood are languishing in detention.
“Are they saying that those Igbo villagers do not have rights to
defend their farmlands from further destruction by the Fulani herdsmen
when the president who should defend them is keeping silent?
“These people must be released by whichever security agency of the
federal government that is holding them because Nigerians don’t
deserve to be treated like slaves in their own house.”
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