The presidency has said that the seven-day quit notice handed out by Ondo State Governor Oluwarotimi Akeredolu for herdsmen to vacate forest reserves in the state, to check the worsening insecurity, breaches the herders’ right.
It argued that ”insecurity is not alien to any group, the language they speak, their geographical location or their faith”.
Rather, in a statement on Tuesday by the senior special assistant to President Muhammadu Buhari on media and publicity, Mallam Garba Shehu, it asked the state government not to breach the rights of herders in the state while to tackling all forms of criminality.
Akeredolu had on Monday given a seven day ultimatum to herders to vacate all forests while meeting with leaders of Hausa/Fulani and Ebira communities at his office in Alagabaka, Akure, the state capital.
He cited how the activities of the herders have long been threatening the security of the state.
The state then mandated those who wish to carry on with their cattle-rearing business to register with appropriate authorities within the next seven days or risk evacuation from the state.
Reacting, Shehu said: ”Rather the ultimatum and contradiction that may follow the order, the state government and the leadership of the Fulani communities in Ondo state should dialogue for a good understanding that will bring to an urgent end, the nightmarish security challenges facing the state”.
He said Akeredolu “will be the least expected to unilaterally oust thousands of herders who have lived all their lives in the state on account of the infiltration of the forests by criminals”.
According to him: “If this were to be the case, rights groups will be right in expressing worries that the action could set off a chain of events which the makers of our constitution foresaw and tried to guard against.”
The presidency argued that ”insecurity is not alien to any group, the language they speak, their geographical location or their faith”.
“We need to delink terrorism and crimes from ethnicity, geographical origins and religion—to isolate the criminals who use this interchange of arguments to hinder law enforcement efforts as the only way to deal effectively with them.
“The government of Ondo, and all the 35 others across the federation must draw clear lines between the criminals and the law-abiding citizens who must equally be saved from the infiltrators. Beyond law and order, the fight against crime is also a fight for human values which are fundamental to our country,” he said.
However, a Lagos-based lawyer, Ademola Owolabi, said Akeredolu has the power to issue vacation notice on the herders.
“He (Akeredolu) has the power and every right to issue the order. He asked herdsmen to vacate the place first because the reserve is the state government asset and the right of Nigerians to live anywhere is not absolute because the security of lives and properties of citizens is also the duty of the governor to ensure.”
Also another lawyer simply said: ”The law is on the side of the governor to issue such directive. The order by Akeredolu is simply an executive order that is apt, if not too late.”
For years, there have been debates around federalism and restructuring, which would allow state governors control state police that would aid then in curbing rising insecurity across the nation.
It has been repeatedly reported how killings and kidnappings for ransom have become rampant on the nation’s highways and farms.
There was the abduction of former Secretary to the Government of the Federation, Chief Olu Falae, by armed herders on his farm in Akure. Despite efforts by police to free him, the chieftain still paid N5 million to regain his freedom.
Also, Olufunke Olakurin, a daughter of the Afenifere chieftain, Chief Reuben Fasoranti, was also shot and killed while on her way to Lagos by suspected herdsmen along Ore road.
A first class monarch in the state, the late Olufon of Ifon Oba Israel Adeusi, was similarly murdered.
Just last week, the Deputy Registrar of the Federal University of Technology Akure, Dr Amos was similarly killed by bandits suspected to be herdsmen.
There are many other incidents, which had spurred the governors in the Southwest to resolve on the formation of the Amotekun Corps, a security outfit that is not completely independent of the existing security structure but supports the police and others.
Meanwhile, a monarch in Ondo State, Olowo of Owo, Ajibade Ogunoye, has commended Akeredolu for asking herders to vacate all the forest reserves in the state.
He said in a statement that the action is accurate in combating the security challenges facing the state.
“As the chief security officer of the State, the governor could not sit, watch and fold his arms while the citizens are being kidnapped at will by bandits.
“The security of lives and properties of the people of the state are important to the government, therefore, all efforts of the government in this regard must be supported by all.”
Also, Mr Sunday Igboho, an advocate of Yoruba nation who resides in Oyo State, also urged Governor Seyi Makinde to make a similar pronouncement in the state to eradicate the killings and kidnapping of farmers in Ibarapa axis of the state.
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