₦airaland Forum

Governors from the South West of Nigeria have been under pressure to put a lasting end to the spate of killings, kidnappings, robberies and other heinous crimes traced to Fulani herdsmen in the region. To this end, they have agreed to hold a security summit, from where residents expect a regional solution to emerge.

Governors Rotimi Akeredolu (Ondo), Seyi Makinde (Oyo), Babajide Sanwo-Olu (Lagos), Gboyega Oyetola (Osun), Kayode Fayemi (Ekiti) and Dapo Abiodun (Ogun) will be attending the security summit in collaboration with the Development Agenda for Western Nigeria, DAWN.

Akeredolu, who doubles as the chairman of the South West Governors’ Forum and convener of the summit, has assured that the proposed security summit would put an end to the activities of marauding herdsmen and address the insecurity challenges in the region.

On the expected results, the Chief Press Secretary to Akeredolu, Segun Ajiboye said: “You know we have held a security summit here in Ondo State and our governor is now taking the initiative to other states in the region.

“Governors of the six states at the meeting will find solutions to the menace. “I want to assure the people of the region that an end is in sight to the spate of insecurity in the South West. There will be a solution to these problems after the summit.”

The summit is coming on the heels of calls by the Arewa Youth Consultative Forum ( AYCF), the Miyetti Allah, and other pro-northern groups to collaborate with the region in solving the herdsmen challenges. The Miyetti Allah even asked for the establishment of Fulani vigilantes in other regions.


These are expected to be part of the conversations. But ahead of this meeting, the governors should realise that they just must not fail with certain expectations on their shoulders.

To begin with, don’t sell out your region. The Fulani are offering security options that we all know they will not possibly consider. The priority is keeping the region safe, and the security measures should rest on mobilising our resources, human, environmental and financial, to protect our people.

The governors should realise that what matters to Nigerians and residents of the region is to have a safe place to live, commute and work. That implies that whoever is working against this peace should be dealt with decisively. It’s not a question of a tribe or ethnic division, but the need to end criminalities on all ends.

Then, we need state security outfits that will complement the role of the military and the nation’s police force. In recent weeks, local hunters and members of the O’odua Peoples Congress (OPC) have expressed their readiness to help tackle the menace. No other group can know the routes and forests in Yorubaland as these two. Leaving them out could amount to shooting ourselves in the leg.

It’s more than certain the Fulani criminals will be particularly afraid of the involvement of these two groups. Since it doesn’t seem we’re ready for state police, the governors’ solutions should include their role.

Lastly, let’s stop the self-delusion, and declare the situation a terrorism emergency. We’ve erroneously kept the mindset that these are mere criminals, but the cost is there for all to see. Before we find ourselves in the shoes of Zamfara and Katsina states, these criminals must be treated with maximum force.

Now that, at last, South West governors realise the need to meet and chart a solution to the herdsmen invasion, Yorubas won’t accept outcomes that lack reality and a specific way forward.

Hmm

Best way to go

helinues:
Best way to go

Yes May God help the Governors and the police man