One of the umbrella bodies of Fulani cattle breeders, Miyetti Allah Cattle Breeders Association of Nigeria (MACBAN), has demanded the immediate arrest of Yoruba nation activist, Chief Sunday Adeyemo, popularly known as Sunday Igboho, over comment he made allegedly threatening to the Fulani ethnic group.
Recall that Igboho in a recent video that has circulated on social media, told his supporters and loyalists not to wait for the government’s intervention before taking steps to defend the territory of Yoruba communities from Fulani herders.
He had said, “This is our domain. We should save ourselves from Fulani. We should put security in all Yoruba land. We do not need to wait for anybody including the government. If we really mean business, we should not wait for the government or else Fulani will carry all our lands. We should be united. Which farms do we have again in Yoruba land? Can we go to farm now?”
The Nigerian military swiftly reacted to Igboho’s comment, saying the Yoruba activist would be supported to the extent that his war was against terrorists troubling the forests and highways in Southwest.
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Maj.-Gen. Edward Buba, spokesman for Defence Media Operations, added that any action taken by Igboho without the involvement of military forces and other security agencies in the country would be considered unconstitutional.
MACBAN’s national president, Baba Othman Ngelzarma demanded the arrest and prosecution of Igboho for making “treasonable statement.”
Ngelzarma said that Igboho’s bold proclamation sent shockwaves through the fulani community, prompting swift reactions from various quarters, adding that his call for the actualisation of Oduduwa nation amounted to treasonable felony.
The statement partly read: “We call on the commander-in-chief of the armed forces of the Federal Republic of Nigeria, President Bola Tinubu (GCFR) and relevant security agencies to arrest and prosecute Sunday Igboho for making this unlawful statement that amounts to treason because he is asking for the actualisation of Oduduwa nation.
“His statements are unlawful. If Nnamdi Kanu will be held behind bars for a similar offence, we see no reason why Sunday Igboho will be allowed to go scot-free without being arrested and prosecuted.”
MACBAN emphasised the need for law and order, denouncing any form of vigilantism or ethnic profiling, stressing that individuals should be held accountable for their actions, regardless of their ethnic or religious background.