A former Minister of Aviation, Femi Fani-Kayode has advocated for all Nigerians to be allowed to carry fire arms, if the Fulani herdsmen are permitted to secure an AK-47 rifles to protect themselves and their cows.
Fani-Kayode stated this on Thursday when he visited a Yoruba activist, Sunday Adeyemo, who is popularly known as Sunday Igboho, at his residence in Ibadan.
According to him, if Fulani herdsmen could be allowed to bear arms for self-defence, other Nigerians should also be allowed to secure themselves.
“The Bauchi State Governor noted a few days ago that Fulani herdsmen should be allowed to carry AK-47, but I disagree with him on that, but that is his own opinion.
“If you go by that principle, it makes absolute sense that if Fulani herdsmen are allowed to carry AK-47 to defend their cows and their lives if they feel threatened, then it is also logical that farmers, local people and each one of us to even have that right to defend ourselves against Fulani herdsmen or against those seeking to come and kill us.
“I am totally behind that and I like that. Why not? Americans have that right. If we had that long time ago, the killings we are witnessing now would not have the kind of atrocities being committed all over the country.
“Insecurity is not limited to the South-West; you will be surprised at what is going on in the North. But the best way is for the government to rise and defend us; that is why we pay them.”
He said Igboho was not against law-abiding Fulani or any person from anywhere living in the South-West, but his position was that criminal herdsmen must stop their illegal activities or be flushed out of the region.
Fani-Kayode described Igboho as a freedom fighter who was ready to collaborate with anyone who wanted the region to be at peace.
KanyiDaily recalls that Igboho had issued a seven-day ultimatum to Fulanis in Igangan to leave the area over alleged kidnapping and banditry.
Igboho had blamed herders and Fulanis, including the Seriki Fulani in Oyo, Saliu Kadri, of being behind the rising insecurity in the area.
The activist made good on his threat by evicting Fulani herdsmen in Igangan, Oyo State, before he stormed Ogun State to flush out ‘criminal herdsmen’ in the state.
