Ekiti state Governor Ayodele Fayose yesterday
held an emergency security summit with hunters from the 16 local government
areas of the state.
Clad in military fatigue, Fayose ordered the
huntsmen to set up a 24-hour surveillance of the state to prevent attacks by
herdsmen.
The governor’s rather unconventional approach
follows the recent massacre by herdsmen of over 70 people in Benue State amid
widespread condemnation of Federal Government’s poor handling of the incident.
He said, “The Federal Government should have
sent the army to Benue, not the police. Governor Ortom should fasten his belt
and protect his people. Those seeking help in Abuja would not find it because
Abuja also needs help.”
He told the hunter-delegates: “Tell them Ekiti
is a no-go area. My state is a no-go area. Those who want to make Ekiti
ungovernable are wasting their time. Don’t kill anybody but defend your towns.
Keep vigil on Ekiti. Don’t sleep again. Arise and fight for our people. How can
the life of a cow be worth more than the life of men? My hunters! Go and
represent me well. If you have juju, use it. Make them (herdsmen) sleep off.
Anything you have, use it. Make sure your people are not killed.”
He described his battle uniform as “a mark of
leadership and solidarity with our hunters and vigilantes.” He added “I am a
man that believes that his people must be protected. I therefore want you all
to protect our people. Go and protect your domain. Make sure everybody entering
our state on a daily basis is screened.”
He urged President Muhammadu Buhari to brand the
“mindless and devilish” cattlemen as terrorists and observed a moment’s silence
for the victims of the Benue tragedy.
The Inspector General of Police, Ibrahim Idris,
meanwhile tendered an apology to the people of Benue State yesterday for
referring earlier to the incident as a communal clash.
Idris, who has been ordered by Buhari to
relocate to Benue, told stakeholders at a meeting in Makurdi: “I apologise for
the misconception on the statement I made at a press conference in Abuja. I was
only trying to convey a message that Nigerians should live together in peace.
As policemen, we try to avoid divisive statements.”
In another attack, two
herdsmen in Edo State on Monday lured one Hassan Usman, a community leader, to
a bush under the pretext of showing him cows for sale. The men instead demanded
money, failing which they inflicted serious machete wounds on the victim.
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