Afenifere, the apex Igbo socio-cultural organization, has reacted to an earlier call made by the Miyetti Allah Cattle Breeders Association of Nigeria (MACBAN), for the establishment of Fulani Youth Vigilante body in communities of the South East.
Speaking during a South East Security summit in Enugu on Thursday, June 20, 2019, Miyetti Allah had said it wants an establishment of Fulani Youth Vigilante group, noting that “the Fulani Youth Vigilant body will be working with the security, the neighborhood watch or vigilante to ensure security in all communities, as it was done in Enugu state.”
“We will solicit for your support and cooperation in adopting dialogue where problems exist as a means of brokering peace and to report cases against our members to either the Fulani Youth Vigilante Group, state or local branch of the association,” the group said.
In reaction, the National Publicity Secretary of Afenifere, Mr. Yinka Odumakin described the establishment of Fulani Youths Vigilante in South East as a provocative agenda. He said:
“It is a provocative agenda which shows that there is a clear agenda to provoke war.
“The South East has come under the siege of marauding herdsmen with authorities in the land shying away from enforcing law and order.
“The height of it all is now this insulting call by Miyetti Allah. They should be careful how they poke their wicked fingers into the eyes of the people. The gentility of a lion is never a sign of cowardice.”
Meanwhile, Ohanaeze Ndigbo said southeasterners will resist the proposal for the establishment of Fulani Youths Vigilante in Igboland, noting that if such request was granted to the herdsmen, it will spell doom for the region.