Fulani Nationalist Movement (FUNAM) has warned some states in the South West region threatening fulani herdsmen to leave their land to rescind their orders or face serious consequences.
The group, who disclosed this in a statement signed by its West Africa Regional Coordinator, Baadu Salisu Ahmadu, said that the decision is not only an irresponsible demand but a call to arms of the faithful who have been pursuing their legitimate business in these forests.
FUNAM gave a counter order, saying no Fulani will move an inch either in Oyo, Ondo or any part of the Western part of Nigeria.
The statement read in part: “Our attention has been drawn to a decree credited to one Rotimi Akeredolu asking Fulani people who have occupied some forests in Ondo State to quit.
“We are also aware of another incidence in Oyo State where an illiterate political thug gave quit notice to Fulani people to leave the territories which are now their irreversible homes.
“This is not only an irresponsible demand but a call to arms of the faithful who have been pursuing their legitimate business in these forests.
“On behalf of Fulani Nationalist Movement, (FUNAM) we hereby warn the governments Oyo and it’s agent, one Sunday Igboho and the Ondo State Govt to rescind their orders or face serious consequences.
“It is shocking that the said Igboho and Akeredolu who is a beneficiary of the system is giving a stupid order that he knows no one will respect. We didn’t get the forests through him and how does he expect Fulani to obey his empty order? If he had been shot during attack on him, will he be alive to give orders? Humans have a short memory.
“The Fulani people in these forests acquired these lands legitimately the Fulani also operates under the ECOWAS protocol on free movement of persons. The people giving the orders should know they do not have the capacity to enforce such orders.
“First they are not the Nigerian Police neither are they the Nigerian Army. The National Assembly has not given such not even the Houses of Assembly in the two states acquisce to such irresponsible demand.”
The group, however, insist that it will resist by all means necessary, including armed resistance any attempt to forcefully eject the herdsmen from these Forests “that in reality does not belong to these States alone. Some are Federal Reserve Forests.”
“We want to ask Akeredolu whether those communities brought the lands from heaven.
“We warn that any one Fulani blood that is shed further in the South West will automatically lead to upheaval in the six states of Lagos, Osun, Oyo, Ondo, Ekiti and Ogun State.
“We the Fulani are on red alert and waiting for the call and will never succumb to any threat or intimidation by ethnic bigots.
“I Baadu Salisu Ahmadu, given my new responsibility, will with other faithful NEVER fail the Fulani Nation in it’s Allah chosen destiny.” The group added.
