Nasir el-Rufai, governor of Kaduna, has condemned the “unlawful eviction” of herders across the country, stating that every citizen reserves the right to choose where to reside. His comments comes amid calls for herders to leave some parts of the country, over concerns related to insecurity. “On behalf of the Government of Kaduna State, I call on all Nigerians living in our State to respect law and order and the rights of all citizens to live in peace and security wherever they reside or work. I appeal to my colleagues governing other States in our country to make similar statements, and disavow these attacks and massacres,” he said in a statement issued on Wednesday. More to follow

Some armed men suspected to be herdsmen have reportedly kidnapped a farmer, Solomon Akinmeji, and killed a member of the Oodua Peoples Congress (OPC), Daniel Adejuyigbe in Iju, Akure North Local Government Area of Ondo State. While Akinmeji was kidnapped on his farm at Okeji farm settlement last Saturday, Adejuyigbe who was part of the search party organised to secure the release of Akinmeji was killed in the kidnappers’ den in the forest It was gathered that Akinmeji was on his farm with some other workers when the hoodlums invaded his farm and abducted him while others escaped being abducted. The development led the youths of the town and members of the OPC to form a search party to secure the release of the farmer but Adejuyigbe was said to be missing during the process. Members of the OPC, the youths and the officials of the Ondo State Security Network, Amotekun, returned to the forest and the remains of the OPC member were found inside a shed in the bush. According to the youth leader in the community, Ogundeji Ayodeji, explained that the youths in conjunction with the police and the Amotekun Corps invaded the forest on Monday where they engaged the kidnappers in a gun duel. But said “We discovered that one of us was missing on Tuesday and we returned to the forest only to found Adejuyigbe dead body in a tent erected by the criminals with his legs and hands tied and eyes blindfolded. He, however, said that the remains of the deceased had been deposited at the morgue while the whereabouts of the abducted farmer remained unknown. He lamented over the continued destruction of farms in the area and the abduction of farmers and residents of the community, saying millions of Naira had been paid to the criminals. He appealed to the state government and the security operatives to work towards providing a lasting solution to the menace in the town and Southwest region. Confirming the development, the state Police Public Relations Officer (PPRO), Mr Tee Leo Ikoro said an investigation has commenced into the matter while some detectives from the state have been drafted to comb the forest The PPRO disclosed that the state Commissioner of Police, Bolaji Salami, has ordered a manhunt for the criminal, assuring that the abducted farmer would be rescued soon.

The Northern Elders Forum (NEF) has told the Fulani community in the Southern part of the country to return to the North if they are forcefully ejected from the communities they reside in. The Elders also called on the northern governors to be ready to receive the Fulani community who would return as a result of forceful ejection from where they reside in the South. This is contained in a statement issued by Director, Publicity and Advocacy of NEF, Dr Hakeem Baba-Ahmed. NEF expressed concern over the reports of ejections threats and attacks on Fulani herders, families and communities in some states of the South. The Forum said it has advised Fulani communities to seek protection where it is available and to resist the temptation to take the law into their own hands. “It is necessary to warn people who threaten law-abiding Fulani communities in all parts of Nigeria, but particularly in some parts of the South, to desist. “The vast majority of Fulani are law-abiding and have rights to live lawfully wherever they can find means of subsistence. Like all Nigerians who can be found in every inch of Nigeria, the rights of the Fulani will not be abridged by criminals hiding behind ethnic interests to exterminate them. “Citizens and groups who play the role of police and other law-enforcement agencies are committing crimes, and they must be stopped by leaders who are sworn to protect the law and security of all Nigerians”, the statement said. NEF, therefore, said “If communities in parts of the country insist that the lawful Fulani is unwelcome and has no right to their security, then the Forum will advise them to relocate to the North. Northern Governors should move urgently to prepare to receive Fulani communities being forcefully ejected. The Forum, however, called on President Muhammadu Buhari and State Governors to take immediate and decisive steps to protect law-abiding members of Fulani communities from those believe that Fulani has no rights in Nigeria. “The Forum demands that the Nigeria Police must live up to its constitutional responsibility to detect crimes and arrest and prosecute criminals, whoever they are. “States which seek to limit criminal activities are perfectly entitled to do so, but they must follow due process, and avoid exposing innocent citizens to danger at all cost,” the statement noted. “The Forum appeals again for all Nigerians to exercise restraint and not to play into the hands of people who desire to achieve dubious political goals by pitching citizens against each other. Persons who inflame passions by circulating videos and other materials should also desist,” the statement added.