TheCable

The Middle Belt Forum (MBF) has called on the federal government to focus on flushing out criminals from states rather than escalate growing tension across the country.

On Friday, Mohammed Adamu, inspector-general of police (IGP), had ordered the arrest of Sunday Adeyemo, better known as Sunday Igboho, over the quit notice given to Fulani settlers in Oyo state.

Seyi Makinde, Oyo governor, also directed Ngozi Onadeko, commissioner of police in the state, to arrest persons found guilty of stoking ethnic tension.

In a statement on Sunday, in Abuja, Pogu Bitrus, national president of MBF, said the organisation is also in support of the order by the Ondo state government directing herders to vacate its forest reserves.

“We call on the Federal Government, especially the Police, to desist from escalating the crisis. What the Presidency and the Police ought to do now is to assist various states to flush out these criminals. Arresting Igboho at this moment can only escalate the growing tension into a raging fury that may further lead to dreadful uncertainties for our nation’s future,” he said.

“We are also worried at the turn of events in the South-West and the order issued by the Inspector-General of Police, Mohammed Adamu, for the arrest of Sunday Adeyemo, a.k.a. Igboho, over his alleged role in the violence that took place at the weekend in Oyo state.

“While we welcome the bold decision by the governor to protect lives and property of citizens threatened by the activities of bandits that have now found safe havens in forests, we are completely opposed to any action by the Federal Government to escalate the ongoing tension as demonstrated by the arrest order on Igboho.

“As the umbrella organisation representing ethnic nationalities in the Middle Belt region, the MBF is in total support of ridding Ondo State of bandits and criminal elements as contained in the ultimatum handed down on criminal herders by the governor.

“As the Chief Security Officer of Ondo State, Governor Akeredolu is rightly entitled to protect citizens that are now under constant siege by criminal elements.

“For those who insist that the quit order on criminal herders amounts to infringing the citizenship rights of the Fulani, the MBF wishes to reiterate that Akeredolu’s quit order is to unregistered herders occupying the forests and involved in kidnappings and banditry.

“What the Federal Government should do now is to assist Akeredolu and other state governors to flush out these criminals and end the culture of lawlessness ripping across not only Ondo but also other states where these outlaws have turned our nation’s forest reserves into safe harbours for their crimes.”