Northern elders orders herdsmen to relocate from the South

Yusuf Bello|

The Northern Elders Forum (NEF) on Tuesday asked herdsmen to leave the southern part of the country as their security is no longer guaranteed.

They also urged security agencies to pay attention to what is happening to herdsmen “hour-to-hour, day-to-day basis”.

Chairman of the Coalition of Northern Groups (CNGs), who had earlier threatened to evict southners from the north over Ruga, Ango Abdullahi, said there was a move by some “trouble elements” in the south to harm herdsmen.

Abdullahi said, “We have heard in the few hours ago that some violence had already started to manifest in some sections of the country against the herdsmen, who for all know that would affect peaceful coexistence in the communities where they have lived for many years.”

“Now, certainly, we are worried about their safety, like we are worried about the safety of every Nigerian who decided to live wherever they want to.

“But then, if there is no certainty that their safety is guaranteed by the authorities that are immediately around them or by the authorities that has responsibility for the overall security of all Nigerians wherever they reside, we are certainly worried about their well-being.

“If it is indeed true that their safety is not guaranteed in the places where they are residing, we would rather have them back into areas where their safety is guaranteed, and they should be coming back as much as possible to the north.”

Abdullahi, however, said the forum is making efforts to ensure de-escalation of violence that will lead to the break down of law and order in the country.

The spokesman for the forum, Abdul-Aziz Sulaiman, alleged earlier that governors of southern states met on July 9 and took a decision to stop the movement of herdsmen and cattle in southern part of the country.

He added that killing of the daughter of Afenifere leader last Friday blamed by a section of the southern leadership on herdsmen has lead to planned threatened reprisals on northerners.

Suleiman said, ” With all these statements and steps taken by the southern governors and opinion leaders, we are worried that none of the northern governors or federal official has deemed it apt to caution them.

“Based on the above observations, and the fact that the instigation of hatred against the Fulani persists, we feel obliged to advice the leadership of the Northern Elders Forum to consider calling on the Fulani to forego their right to live and flourish anywhere in the south and relocate to their various states in the north to ensure their safety noting the inherent return value of such denial.”