Afenifere Begs International Community to Help Stop Genocide In Nigeria

Afenifere, a pan-Yoruba socio-political group, on Monday begged the international community to assist Nigeria in preventing what it described as genocide creeping into the country.

The group urged the whole world not to stand aloof as Nigeria was moving towards the edge of the precipice.

It warned that there would be a big burden for the global community if things got out of hand in Nigeria.

This was contained in a communique issued after the group’s meeting held at the Akure home of its leader, Chief Reuben Fasoranti.

In the communique signed by Yinka Odumakin, its National Publicity Secretary, Afenifere said the killings targeted at non-Fulani groups across the country were willful and deliberate in pursuit of expansionist and conquest agenda.

“Meeting reviewed the spate of wanton killings going on across Nigeria and being perpetrated largely by Fulani herdsmen/militia, the only group that are in possession of unlicensed sophisticated weapons in Nigeria today without fear of any consequence as they seem to have official backing, promotion and defence.

“And most unfortunately, the government in place has betrayed perceived complicity as we are not aware of any member of the group on trial for these monumental crimes even when Miyetti Allah has owned up to some of them.

“Instead, the regime has treated them with kid gloves, making excuses for their crimes with our Information Ministry and Presidential Media Office being made to look like Boko Haram and Miyetti Allah media centres as they issue statements to defend these groups even when they are not defending themselves with the presidency equating Miyetti Allah with Afenifere and Ohanaeze in order to confer legitimacy on them.

“And of late is the insensitive and impunity-inspired decision of the Federal Government to open a Fulani Radio for the herdsmen in violation of the federal character spirit of our constitution.

“Those who have studied events in Liberia, Somalia, Rwanda and Sudan would not miss the fact that this was how events started until full-scale civil wars broke out.

“To avert this destructive scenario, we call on the Federal Government to immediately readdress its priorities in these matters and begin the process of running an inclusive country while re-defining law and order so that no citizen would take the life of another and not fear for consequences,” it said.

Afenifere frowned at the activities of those it described as Fulani marauders all over Yorubaland in form of killings, kidnappings and rape of women.

The group advised Yoruba people to activate their traditional and communal self-defence system in the face of the threats they were currently facing.

It commended former President Olusegun Obasanjo and others who had spoken against the insecurity in the country.

Afenifere said: “The Assembly took note of the recent statements by former President Olusegun Obasanjo crediting the wave of terror going on in Nigeria by Boko Haram and Miyetti Allah in Nigeria to the Fulanisation project in West Africa.

“We commend his boldness in speaking the truth no matter how inconvenient it may be which is the hallmark of a statesman.

“We also acknowledge the forthrightness of the Nobel Laureate, Prof Wole Soyinka, Gen David Jemibewon, Col  David Bamigboye, Ohanaeze Ndigbo, Pan Niger Delta Forum (PANDEF), Middle Belt Forum and all other patriots who have backed Obasanjo’s statement.”

Endorsing the Yoruba Summit Group position on insecurity in Yorubaland, Afenifere stated that “it is only those who didn’t wish Nigeria well and agents of destruction that would dismiss all these patriots as raising a false flag.”