Count us out of vigilante – Miyetti Allah

By Abimbola Akindunbi, Adekola Afolabi & Tola Gbadamosi
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The Ondo State Chairman of Miyetti Allah, Alhaji Gabar Garuba has disassociated the group from any existing herdsmen vigilante operatives in the state.

Equally, the State Police Command also said the State Police is not involved in the herdsmen vigilante set up.

Garuba who spoke with our correspondent in a telephone interview said that  the rumours  that herdsmen have formed a vigilante group in Ondo State were unfounded and  cannot be substantiated.

Reports in the national dailies had it that some suspected Fulani herdsmen have raised vigilantes in the state.

An identity card of one of the armed herdsmen found at a spot in Akoko according to the report, indicated that they were members of Miyetti Allah Cattle Breeders Association of Nigeria and they belonged to the Ikare-Akoko branch of the association.

However, the State Chairman of the association while speaking with The Hope said there was never a time the group came together to form a vigilante group, adding that there is nothing they do without carrying the police along.

Also, the state Police Public Relations Officer, Mr Femi Joseph said there was no Fulani vigilante operatives anywhere in the state.

“I am not aware of any Fulani vigilante group in the state and I do not know  where  the  people get such information. What we have is local vigilante group that usually assists our local Divisional Police Officers (DPO) to curb the menace of crime and criminality happening in the state.

“These local vigilante groups work in synergy with the police and I don’t know why people will say they are herdsmen vigilante group”.

On the allegation of some herdsman vigilante operatives arrested by the police, the PPRO said nobody has been arrested by the police.

Earlier, the state Governor Arakunrin Oluwarotimi Akeredolu,  has said  his government never approved the formation of Fulani vigilante group in the state as being insinuated in some quarters.

The clarification became necessary following the trending pictures of identity card carrying men identified as Fulani vigilante in the Akoko area of the state.

Akeredolu who cleared the air in an interview with newsmen in Akure, said the state government has directed the police to arrest anyone caught carrying arms or parading themselves as members of Fulani vigilante group in any part of the state.

He explained that a meeting was held at the instance of the government and members of the Miyetti Allah in the state where they unanimously agreed to form a committee that will see to the transportation and movement of herders across the state.

He noted that the aim was to assist government at nipping in the bud incessant destruction of farmlands by identifying herders whose cows destroyed such farms with a view to pay compensation to the affected farmers.

The governor said this is because the Fulani herdsmen have the knowledge of their members who transport cows as nomads.

He  equally maintained that the committee would also help identify any herder involved in kidnapping to tackle insecurity in the state, saying that the state did not approve of any Fulani vigilante group.

In a related development, an Abuja -based lawyer,  Mr Kayode Ajulo, has debunked  a report dated July 23, 2019 in a national newspaper, showing his picture  with some suspected Fulani herdsmen who mounted road block on Ondo highway.

He said he did not authorize anyone to use his photos with Fulani Vigilante Group.

“The report that I was stopped by Fulani herdsmen as peddled by some persons is not true, noting  that his interaction with the group  was  a voluntary undertaking as part of his profiling as a discerning leader of my community, desirous of curbing the menace of insecurity in Nigeria.

 The founder of Egalitarian Mission Africa,  made this known in a statement he sent  to our correspondent titled: Synoptic  Account  of  my Encounter  With  The Vigilante  Group  On The  Highway.

The statement said, “My attention has been drawn to the publication in print and electronic media of my encounter with some vigilantes on my way from Akure on the 21st July, 2019 which has generated a lot of controversial responses from different quarters.

I have received calls from various well-wishers and friends of mine, locally and internationally, who out of concern, inquired whether I was hurt or injured by the vigilantes. It is pertinent to state that I am quite hale and hearty without any injury or harm.

 Moreso, it is important to state for the records the actual facts as regards the events that occurred that fateful, Sunday afternoon of 21st July, 2019 in order to clarify the narrative trailing the publications.

 It is quite true that I was in Akure, Ondo State from Friday, July, 19, 2019 to Sunday, 22nd July, 2019 for my mother’s investiture as the Iya-Ijo (Chief Matron) of our home Church, Christ Anglican Church, Oke-Ifira-Akoko, Ondo State.  On my way back to Abuja on the 22nd day of July, 2019 in the company of some security men, we saw two men at the highway around Akoko, Ondo State carrying dane guns.

 On sighting them, inquiry was made as to their duty on the highway with guns in their hands, being not uniformed men. They thereafter responded that they were members of the Miyetti Allah Cattle Breeders Vigilante group whose operation is known to all the security apparatus in the area. Also, they willingly showed us their identity cards which had their names and designations. Some other security men came to corroborate their claims.

 In response to the controversial reactions on my encounter with these men, it suffices to state that we, as Nigerians, must sever political and ethnic sentiments from our minds in the bid to nip this ubiquitous insecurity in the land in the bud also did not use nor published the photos on social media.

“We need to be strategic and respect individual confidentiality.

“My intervention is strictly to find lasting solution to the insecurity in the land, same should not be used to settle political scores.”