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Increasing Fulani criminal infiltration of Yoruba land - The Nation Newspaper

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For the umpteenth time on these pages, am quoting the Fulani Nationality Movement) as saying:"We have said it over and over, that Nigeria is the only inhertrance we have in Africa or anywhere in the world. This land belongs to us, from Sokoto to the banks of the Atlantic Ocean. This was the destiny bestowed on Uthman Dan Fodio which would have been fulfilled since 1816 if not for the obstruction of this great assignment by the British. It is no longer time to play the ostrish. Our men are waiting. We are boiling with the zeal to actualize our dream; enough of double dealing and ambivalence by Fulani political leaders who, unfortunately, think the Fulani can only take back what belongs to us through appeasement and elections destined to reflect cultural values antithetical to the preachings of Uthman Dan Fodio."- It is beyond these illiterates to know that apart from their progenitors never subduing, or capturing, the Kanuri next door, their army was roundly defeated by the Yorubas at the Battle of Òsogbo in 1840; a pivotal war during the 19th-century Yoruba revolutionary wars when, led by Balogun Oderinlo of Ibadan, the Yoruba army stopped the Fulani/Ilorin expansion, halting their southward advance into the Yoruba heartland and further southwards. But I shall not relent as long as these people believe they can ride roughshod over everybody, maiming, killing or kidnapping like they have no elders back home. It is small comfort that the Sultan of Sokoto, Muhammad Sa'ad Abubakar, publicly stated in 2020 that in the hundreds of books written by his ancestor, Usman dan Fodio, there is no claim of ownership of Nigeria. Out of ignorance , rather than consult His Eminence regarding the veracity or falsity of their claim, they all bounded together and declared as follows to their foot soldiers:"We your leaders held meetings across the key Northern States of Sokoto, Bornu, Katsina, Kano, Yobe, Kebbi, Bauchi and Kaduna. Our resolve is that Northern youths should move enmasse to Southern States (rather than go to school or be otherwse, gainfully engaged), relaunch the mass movement in ways they have never seen. If the towns and cities are hostile, hang out on the street corners, in uncompleted buildings, occupy the forests, pitch tents, make anywhere available as your abode, your rest places, your home.We urge you to be armed. The infidels may want to attack you". You will not believe that sans the towns named above, there's not a chance on earth that Nigeria would ever have been labelled poverty capital of the world. Yet it is in these places the do- nothings converge to plan how to overrun Nigeria from Sokoto to the Atlantic ocean. I am tired, writing about a people who are only happy to be be labelled the third or 4th most dangerous terrorist group the world over. Since writing my article 'The Recrudescence of Criminal Fulani Herders' Kidnapping Activities in Southwest Nigeria' of 23 March '25, these people have been back - they never really left - spreading tears and sorrow in all parts of Yoruba land and elsewhere. Their attacks, primarily targeting rural communities in Kwara South (Ifelodun, Irepodun, Isin, and Ekiti LGAs) and various other parts of the Southwest, have fueled insecurity and caused significant population displacement, quadrupling insecurity in the geo - political zone, known a few years back, as anout the only safe part of the country. During the Buhari years, I ascribed increased Fulani menace all over Nigeria to the massive encouragement, tacit as well as overt, that President Muhammadu Buhari gave them - so much so he could ask Benue people "to live in harmony with their neighbours", that is, the same Fulanis that have just slaughtered almost 100 citizens of the state. Now I believe that the new onslaught has something to do with how soon these land-less land grabbers think they must take over their 'inheritance', Nigeria, that is. What did President Buhari not do to truly gift Nigeria to his people? I remember writing as follows in the article:'Why Re-present the National Water Resources Bill: "Other policies which the Buhari administration attempted to foist on the country include, but are not limited to: RUGA, which would have planted Fulani herdsmen in well appointed, fully provisioned, settlements in every part of the country, grazing routes, which were intended to link grazing colonies in a National Livestock Transformation Plan for which the government was prepared to seize lands belonging to states as it actually attempted to do in Benue state, as well as the ever recurring National Water Resources Bill which has, again, recently been re-presented by the President after it was earlier rejected by the no- nonsense Saraki - led National Assembly". "Now with a rubber stamp National Assembly President Buhari has again returned the bill, intending to grab the banks of all Nigerian rivers for his people". "Of particular attention is the proposed annexation of all the lands adjoining the river banks. These are all ancestral lands belonging to families. Without a doubt, President Buhari would, as soon as the bill is passed, hand over permanent grazing rights to his kinsmen who will then commence an expansion/conquest of the hinterland". "The bill is also intended to abrogate the Land Use Act which vests all lands in state governors. This will amount to bringing grazing colonies through the backdoor". "Nigerians must rise up to resist this obnoxious bill aimed at enthroning and legalising anarchy" So also must we now resist, and frustrate, this new wave of criminal infiltration into Yoruba land, enroute further South, until they achieve their dream of "dipping the Koran" in the Atlantic ocean". O nbo, o nbo, awon la nde de - a Yoruba proverb about the need to prepare for the evil day never to arrive. The fresh energy being poured into the establishment of a State Police by the Tinubu administration sure did not come a minute too early. The North, despite the horrendous killings and kidnappings up there by their own, has for far too long, been the stumbling bloc. But as has become President Tinubu's won't, through due consultations with appropriate persons, and entities, he wants to remove all the distractions and get this through, successfully. He has appropriately briefed the new Inspector - Geneal of Police,Tunji Disu who, unlike his immediate predecessor, wasted no time, and has set things in motion by pro- actively appointing an 8- man committee to work out the modalities. President Tinubu must not relent. He must make the very best use of the U.S - Nigeria Entente to, once and for all, put these enemies of state where they truly belong. Much more poignantly, a friend with whom I discussed the subject had the following to add:"I believe that state Governors, LG Chairmen and the traditional rulers in every community should evolve a security infrastructure that can checkmate these criminals. Nobody in his right senses should expect that vigilantes can successfully confront these criminals who go out in numbers, all armed with AK 47. Indeed, no vigilantes, in a rural setting, can resist such heavily armed criminals. Also, soldiers, police, Amotekun, local hunters etc should be integrated into a security patrol throughout the forests and farmlands of Yoruba land and other affected states. These are about the only means by which these ruffians can be meaningfully tackled". I cannot agree less. Fulani terrorists have done more than enough havoc to the country and it's Law abiding citizens. If Northern Elders, its royalty and intelligentsia cannot do it, let Nigeria help them put their house in order. Source: https://thenationonlineng.net/increasing-fulani-criminal-infiltration-of-yoruba-land/

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