We Are At Peace With Ondo State Government – Hausa/Fulani Residents

By Ayodele Oni

The Hausa/Fulani Community in Ondo State has reacted to alleged victimization of some of its members resident in various parts of the State.

The Northerners said a report credited to the Arewa Youths Consultative Forum needed to be corrected to ensure that the public is not driven into unnecessary panic based on the self-serving desires of some people.

A statement signed by the Chairman, Hausa/Fulani community, Alhaji Bala Umaru and Alhaji Bello Garuba, chairman, MACBAN, said attempts were being made to set their people against Government.

“It becomes necessary to respond to this false allegations because elections are around the corner and politicians could use these twisted information to dissuade voting age members among our people from exercising their franchise.

“To begin with, I am a native of Ningi town of Bauchi State, but was born and brought up in Ondo State.

“Having lived here for more than five decades, I can tell categorically that there has never been an Administration as impartial as the current APC one in Ondo State under the leadership of Arakunrin Oluwarotimi Akeredolu, SAN especially as touching the welfare and protection of the rights of the Hausa/Fulani Community in Ondo State.

“It is under this Administration that the Hausa/Fulani Community was given greater recognition and there is no way I will allow the interest of our  people jeopardized.

“Recall that Amotekun Corps was set up to complement the efforts of existing Security Agencies who have been overwhelmed by series of criminal activities especially in the wake of Boko Haram insurgency, Banditry, Kidnapping, Cybercrimes, Ritual Killings and some other criminal activities.

”As a matter of fact, there is an enabling law backing up the establishment of the Corps which I suggest you take time to digest.

“The activities of the Corps have been carried out strictly in line with the enabling law and we have deep business interests here that needs to be protected from criminals especially Cattle Rustlers who want to reap where they did not sow.

“There are two verifiable cases involving the theft of Cows by some people. It was through the assistance of Amotekun Corps that we were able to recover the 16 cows while those involved were prosecuted and jailed by the law court.

“Another case involves the kidnap of Alhaji Musa Wakili, a Fulani man from Supare in Akoko Southwest area of the State by fellow Fulanis who were discovered to be mercenaries hired by some people from Edo State.

“There has been massive movement of young boys from the Northern part of the Country into the Southern part with no specific means of livelihood, carrying arms and dangerous weapons loaded in buses and trailers.

“Recently, as you may be aware, about 22 young boys loaded in a Toyota Hummer Bus from Katsina State were apprehended by Amotekun Corps for unlawful possession of firearms with live ammunition and 500 dangerous weapons hidden in a sack containing tiger nuts.

“These developments have become source of concern to us, the Hausa/ Fulani Community and have been engaging the leadership of Amotekun Corps to ensure innocent persons are not punished.

“As a matter of fact, many of the interrogations are carried out in our presence and that of the Chairman of MACBAN in Ondo State, Alhaji Bello Garuba.”

On the passage of the Anti-Open Grazing Law the group explained that “few of our people especially those involved in cattle rustling have been at the center of the deliberate attempt to tarnish the image of Hausa Fulani people, who have been living in Ondo State for decades thus making us endangered species.

“Since the law was signed, we have participated in settling farmers-herders clashes occasioned by wanton destruction of farm crops, diverting cattle to major roads and highways causing traffic jams and sometimes, accidents as in the case that happened in Ore few months back.

“Despite these infractions from some of our people, I have taken frantic steps in conjunction with the leadership of Miyetti Allah to curb the negative publicity arising from these.”