Tobias Sylvester
Ohanaeze Ndigbo, the apex Igbo socio-cultural organization, has responded 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 the 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.
However, the President-General of Ohanaeze Ndigbo, Chief John Nnia Nwodo said Ndigbo will resist the proposal for the establishment of Fulani Youths Vigilante in Igboland.
Accusing the herdsmen of violating Igbo women in their farms, among other crimes, Nwodo noted that if such request was granted the herdsmen, it will spell doom for Igboland. Nwodo said:
“Ohanaeze vehemently opposes any attempt by Miyetti Allah to establish any form of vigilante group in Igboland.
“These are people who have ravaged our farms, raped our women and slaughtered their husbands. As at today, they technically enjoy immunity from arrest and prosecution. They freely display AK-47 rifles not permitted to be used by civilians.
“Extending this measure to them will turn them into an army of occupation and invite unavoidable confrontations with our youths. We will resist such a policy with every might available to us.”
