Fulani Herdsmen, Another Boko Haram?

Fulani Herdsmen, Another Boko Haram? 

The disturbing news about the Fulani herdsmen in the resent time is a thing of concern to all Nigerians not only the South-Western part of the country.

Fulani herdsmen otherwise known as nomadic cattle rearers. They graze cattles from one place to another and even from a state to another.

They value the lives of their cattles than fellow human beings, that is, it is extremely difficult for them to let go of any scenario that leads to the death of any of their cattle.

The resent kidnap of the former Minister and presidential candidate of Alliance for Democracy (AD) in 1999 general elections and also a cheiftain of Afenifere, Yoruba Socio-cultural Group, Chief Olu Falae by this group of people was an height of insult and criminality to Yoruba Nation and Nigeria at large.

Though initially, the leaders of the Fulani herdsmen denied that the kidnap was arranged and perfected by his people.

Meanwhile, while narrating his ordeal in the hands of these Fulani herdsmen, Chief Olu Falae confirm the claim that his kidnap was staged by Fulani herdsmen.

He went on further to state that they even tried killing him and that had it being been that they succeeded in killing him, Yoruba Nation would have gone to war with the Fulanis.

While parading the suspects by the police, they claimed that they kidnapped Chief Olu Falae in order to raise money for Sallah (Muslim celebration). Was the reason justifiable?
Though one of the children of Chief Olu Falae claimed that ransom was paid before the release of Chief Olu Falae, but Nigeria Police has stated clearly that it didn't know anything about the payment of ransom.  

When reacting to the their arrest, Chief Olu Falae was able to identify them unscrupuous Fulani herdsmen that kidnapped him.

The war of words between former Minister of Aviation and a yoruba leader, Chief Femi Fani-Kayode and the former governor of Kano State, Engr. Rabiu Kwankwoso about this ugly development is regretable.

Femi Fani-Kayode calling Fulani herdsmen as 'Tse Tse flies' is unwarranted and unelderstatemanly.
To be candid, the excesses of this herdsmen should be curtailed, they have moved from wanton destruction of farmland to robbery and now kidnapping!

They should be checked now before it is too late. Nigeria's law enforcement agents should step up their games and check all these miscreants.

Going by history about the emergence of the dreaded fundamentalists called boko haram, it all started like a child play and presently it has turned to a national and even international threat.

In One of the videos released by their leader, Abubakar Shekau some months ago, he stated it categorically that boko started with knives but can now boast of many armored personnel carriers among other deadly ammunitions.

Boko Haram is a national embarrassment to Nigeria and it may be stated that the former president of Nigeria, Goodluck Ebele Jonathan lost his re-election bid to the untamed boko haram activities and high level of corruption during his reign in Aso Rock (presidential villa).

The issue of the massacre of Federal Girls College in Adamawa State and the famous Chibok girls #BringBackOurGirls cannot be forgotten so soon.

The kidnapped Chibok girls have used over a year with this religious extremists, called boko haram. It is my prayer that these innocent girls be rescued very soon.

It was reported boko haram has joined the Islamic State In Syria (ISIS), and this will logically transform boko haram to a wing of ISIS in Africa.

I cannot be commend the time frame that President Muhammadu Buhari gave the security Chiefs to flush out boko haram by December this year, though the security chiefs believed that the target can be met, this they have said in many fora.

But some nigerians are having contrary opinion as to that, one of them is the former Head of State, General Yakubu Gowon. He said it few days ago that the December deadline is not feasible at all and that no one can predict perfectly when the insurgents will be wiped out completely.

Nigerians need to cooperate with the security agencies in stamping out this dreaded sect called boko haram, irrespective of your State of origin, state of residence, prompt and adequate information about them or suspicion will go a long way in intelligence gathering.

Boko haram members are not ghosts, they live and mingle with people of their communities as well. People should stop providing shields for them.

The reason for this wanton destruction and killings for now, no one knows, some claim that it is politically motivated, while some said it is religiously inclined....
The misery behind boko haram will soon be unraved, enough is enough!!

Conclusion 

I call on all Nigerians not to be playing politics with everything, let's come together to arrest this ugly trend and stop this blame game.

Our security agencies should live up to expectation towards getting rids of these nuisance. Not all Fulani herdsman are criminals, but the bad eggs must be flushed out.

However, I must commend the swift reaction of the Nigerian Police towards the release of Chief Olu Falae, though one of his children claimed that ransom was paid but the goodnews is that ha has been released and that the kidnappers have been arrested and charged to court.

I posit that capital punishment should be placed on the crime of kidnapping, this will go a long way in discouraging the trending act. We have heard of some people faking their own kidnap.

It doesn't matter if you are Fulani, Ibo, Yoruba or Hausa, put Nigeria first. No tribe is free of miscreants, allow the law enforcement agents to do their job.
Unity of Nigeria cannot be negotiated. 

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