Herdsmen may launch Jihad in South West, Fulani leader warns
By Bunmi Ojewole
Leader of the Gan Allah Fulani Development Association of Nigeria, (GAFDAN) Sali Bayari has said that the greatest fear concerning the activities of the armed Fulani herdsmen is that the group which has been kidnapping people for ransom may turn into a Jihad movement across the South West and other parts of the country. He also said the group may launch militant armed attacks indicating the possibility that the armed activities may not be unconnected with the strive for a political foothold in areas from which they are operating.
Bayari said “The issue has gone beyond herdsmen and farmers crisis; it has led to kidnapping and banditry and if we are not careful, it may lead to a kind of jihadist or militant group and that is what we fear.”
He expressed the need for Nigerians to come together so as to forge a common ground and prevent a slide into anarchy.
Bayari spoke during a meeting held with former President Olusegun Obasanjo at Abeokuta, the Ogun State capital on Saturday. Chief Obasanjo had organized the meeting on how to move Nigeria forward and stop the increasing violence in some parts of the country.
The revelation of the group appears to confirm the fears of some observers who think the kidnapping is not purely an economic movement but motivated by political interests since the kidnappers themselves do not live ostentatious life an appear to be coordinated by a strong and disciplined network.
Bayari who said Fulani herdsmen resort to carrying arms for self defence added that the idea was to “have balance of terror.”
He also regretted that his group has written several letters to the government without any concrete reply or action taken by the relevant authorities.
He spoke about fear and suspicion that the security chiefs appear to be more interested in the crisis that in finding a peaceful solution to the bourgeoning mayhem.
Bayari said “ We wrote several letters to the authorities even to the security chiefs but we don’t get any response. There are times we begin to wonder whether the security chiefs are more interested in the crisis than in peace.”
He added “We also discovered that there are some people who don’t want peace in this country. We think they have various reasons or a particular interest that is making them not to want peace to reign in the country.”
Chief Obasanjo has said at the meeting “How to move Nigeria forward irrespective of our religion, ethnicity, training, and profession among others is all we came here to discuss. There is nobody here who could do all these for us, it is the responsibility of you and me.”