… calls for immediate intervention
The Aareonakakanfo of Yorubaland, Iba Gani Adams has raised the alarm on the protracted killings across the southwest region of Nigeria.
Adams, in a strong-worded letter addressed to the United Nations, African Union (AU), and the international communities, expressed deep worry over the worsening insecurity in the country.
The letter, personally signed by him, was titled “Urgent Need to stop killings by Fulani Herdsmen in Yorubaland”/
It reads in parts: “This is to bring to your attention ‘a clear and present danger’ threatening the fragile union of our great country, Nigeria.
“Senseless killings and massacre of Nigerians, almost on a daily basis, are tragically sliding toward an anarchical terminal point.
“The inability or apathetical attitude of the Federal Government, pitiably as it is, is already compounding an already gory situation.
“While you already know, through diplomatic sources and the media, what is going on in world’s most populous black nation, Nigeria, I want to urgently alert you that an agenda bordering on pogrom is gradually being executed in Yorubaland.”
Adams stated that it is the duty of the global community to intervene and address the issue in an holistic manner, adding that statistics of prominent Yoruba people who have been murdered by these killer herdsmen and their collaborators continue to
increase by the day.
“Yorubaland have been put under serious pressure through payment of ransom – running into millions of naira – demanded by these conscienceless, unscrupulous and ruthless murderers.
“Now, the agitation for them to leave our land has reached an alarming crescendo and the backing (that is the belief of our people) given to them by the Federal Government to continue to lay claim to the fact that ‘nobody can chase anybody away from any part of the country’, is not helping matters.
“The peace, stability and tranquility of Yoruba people in this geographical space called Nigeria are being tested by blood-thirsty maniacs through invasion of our land.
“In our space, these herdsmen are accused daily of committing rape, kidnap and murder.
“The invasion of Igangan, a rural community in Ibarapaland, Oyo State on June 6, 2021, leading to the massacre of scores of residents by these same band of roving killers, who prefer to stay in the forest because of their murderous intent, seems to be the last straw.”
The Yoruba generalisimo urged the global community to urgently intervene in the situation, saying the earlier they intervene, the better. He warned that any crisis in Nigeria may have a negative effect on the rest of the world.
“It may happen soon because all the security establishments are already showing signs of virtual ineffectiveness.
“Your Excellencies, if something urgent is not done, these series of attacks will soon have a negative effect on Western countries’ investments in Nigeria, he said.
The letter has also been forwarded to countries that include, British Foreign Secretary, European Union (EU) member states,and Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS),Embassies, including Germany, Canadian, Italian, Japan Holland, Sweden, South African, Ghanaian, Togo and Benin Republic Embassy,among others.
