By Timothy Agbor, Osogbo
The Oodua People’s Congress in Osun state has given the Fulani herdsmen, living within the state, seven days ultimatum to fish out the bad heads among them in the interest of peace.
The OPC expressed the readiness to use everything within its reach to tackle the security challenges currently rocking the state.
OPC Governor in the state, Alhaji Leke Akintayo, popularly called Olojongbodu, issued the ultimatum during a peace meeting held with the leaders of Gan Allah Fulani Development Association of Nigeria and Miyetti Allah Castle Breeders Association, in Osogbo, on Tuesday.
Olojongbodu, who also sounded a note of warning to Fulani cattle rearers, who have been engaging in criminal activities such as kidnapping , banditry , robbery among others, said they should leave the state immediately or be made to face the full wrath of law.
Expressing worry over the spate of kidnapping and other forms of criminal activities in the state , the OPC leader said that one of the major objectives of OPC since its creation in 1998, is to protect the lives and property of Yorubas.
“We called for this peace meeting in order to find lasting solution to the issue of security breakdown such as kidnapping, armed robbery and all sort of criminal activities in the state.
“Over the years, Osun had been adjudged to be the most peaceful state in Nigeria not until recently when the so called Fulani herders invaded our land and started kidnapping our people.
“It was quite unfortunate that some unscrupulous elements tried to find their way to the state through their collaborators to lunch attacks on some innocent citizens along some highways and we would not allow them to destroy our state.
“We would use everything within our reach to ensure that those bad eggs among the Fulani herders are flushed out of the state.”
“We are law abiding group. We are working in collaboration with the police, DSS, Civil Defence, and all other paramilitary to make sure we curb the menace of insecurity in the state.
“We want to sound a notice of warning to these Fulani herders to desist from terrorising our people and the need for the good among them to fish out the bad heads among them with seven days in the interest of peace,” he said.
The OPC boss therefore urged his men to act within the ambitof law, urging them to comport themselves while on duty, saying security issue is very sensitive.
Responding, Chairman Miyetti Allah Cattle Breeders Association, Alhaji Abdulahi Alilu, vowed to give maximum support to OPC and other security agencies, promising to co-exist peacefully with the farmers and residents of the state.
Represented by Seriki Soliu, Alhaji Alilu said over the years, they had also been the victims of kidnappers.
He promised to work hand in hand with the OPC to ensure they fish out those who have been deriving pleasure in perpetrating the dastardly activities in the state.
Echoing a similar view, Mr Muhammad Adam, Public Relations Officer, Gan Allah Fulani Development Association of Nigeria (Fulani Intelligence Squad) and Youth Leader, Alhaji Ibrahim promised to support the OPC in their bid in curtailing the criminal activities in the state.
