“At a time we thought it was Boko Haram, we didn’t know that Fulani herdsmen were capitalising on the fundamentalist insurgency and brutality,” Soyinka said.
By Emma Ogbuehi
In the wake of last Sunday’s massacre of innocent Catholic faithful at St. Francis Catholic Church, Owo, Ondo State, Nobel Laureate, Prof. Wole Soyinka, has accused Fulani herdsmen of capitalising on fundamentalist insurgency and brutality to wreak havoc in the country.
Soyinka said the attack was an attempt by a group of people in the country to dominate others.
He also said the choice of Ondo State as the target of attack was deliberate because the assault was targeted at the State Governor, Rotimi Akeredolu, for showing leadership in the quest of the Yoruba for internal liberation.
Soyinka was in Akure on Friday on a condolence visit to the governor over the terror attack in which over 50 Catholic faithful were gruesomely murdered at Mass on a Pentecost Sunday.
According to the world acclaimed playwright, there is a relationship between the terrorist group, Islamic State West Africa Province (ISWAP), Boko Haram and Fulani herdsmen.
The Federal Government had blamed ISWAP for the attack in Ondo.
But Soyinka said the groups are the same.
“At a time we thought it was Boko Haram, we didn’t know that Fulani herdsmen were capitalising on the fundamentalist insurgency and brutality.
“And that is why we see a nexus of operation between ISWAP, Boko Haram and Fulani herdsmen.
“They work singularly, individually and they work collectively. I Know Ondo State has always been at the forefront of awareness.”
Soyinka said the terror was a domination agenda and Ondo State was the target because Governor Akeredolu was perceived by the terrorists as an agent of internal liberation.
“We are dealing with people who are obsessed with domination; it is in their blood, it is in their Creed, their psyche that they need to dominate.
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“Akeredolu was targeted and there is no question about that. It was not an accident, and it is passing a massage to the rest of us.
“That is why I’m here. I want the Governor to know that we have received the message.
“We understand it and we came to sympathize with him that he was selected as a medium of that message,” Soyinka said.
“So, the answer we must give to the message we all received is that we are not slaves.
“Here, on our own soil, having had the experience of century of disdain, contempt about us as black people. Again some characters come along calling themselves whatever, ISWAP, Boko Haram.
“So, all those groups including those who are just opportunists – the herdsmen, they are making a mistake. I want the Governor to realize they are making a mistake.
“I have been on this issue for quite some time. This invasion has been on and these herdsmen are all over the forests.”
Governor Akeredolu appreciated Soyinka for the condolence visit, saying that the state will remain hugely indebted to him.
“It is a cause that he has dedicated his life to, and I thank God for his life. The state wants to appreciate you for finding time to come at this hour of grief.
“This is like a dagger drawn to our heart, and it is an assault on our psyche. The psyche of those of us in the South-West and Western Region.
“I think they think they can create some fear in us but they made a mistake because this will make us fiercer in our condemnation of their actions. And we are not hiding it,” Akeredolu told Soyinka.
Meanwhile, the state government has canceled this year’s Democracy Day celebration slated for Sunday, June 12, 2022, consequent upon the terror attack on innocent worshipers at St. Francis Catholic Church, Owo.
The Federal Government had on Thursday declared Monday, June 13 public holiday in celebration of the Democracy Day.
A statement by the Chief Press Secretary to the governor, Richard Olatunde said the cancelation is to enable the entire people of Ondo State mourn their loved ones who lost their lives in the horrific attack.
Recall that the governor had earlier directed that all flags in the state be flown at half -mast for seven days in honour of the victims of the terror attack.