THE HERDSMEN FROM HELL- Femi Fani Kayode
"Throughout history it has been the inaction of those who could have acted, the indifference of those who should have known better and the silence of the voice of justice when it mattered most that has made it possible for evil to triumph"- His Royal Majesty Haile Selassie 1, Emperor of Ethiopia.

If there was ever a time to remember the words of Haile Selassie and speak out against evil this is it. With the abduction of the elder statesman and June 12th struggle hero,
Chief Olu Falae, from his home by a group of Fulani herdsmen in south western Nigeria it is time for us to seriously consider the expulsion of all Fulani herdsmen from the southern part of our country.
We thank God and commend the efforts of the Inspector-General of the Nigerian police that Chief Falae was returned home safely after a harrowing three days.
Given his status in Yoruba land, had this not been so there would have been cataclysmic consequences for the unity of our country.
It is because we wish to avoid such a scenario that it is important that we get these marauders and vandals out of our territory as quickly as possible.
This is especially so given the fact that, by Falae's testimony, it is clear that the Fulani herdsmen that abducted him were working hand in hand with Boko Haram.
These herdsmen have become the pests of our nation. They are like the east African tsetse fly: wherever they go they suck the life blood out of their hosts and, like the locust, they destroy everything in their path.
They are like leeches: they indulge in a parasitic mode of nutrition and they suck the blood of the carcass until their victim is left for dead.
Like the Arab supporter of APC, they are only known for the most hideous of things. This includes terror, intimidation, theft, murder, rape, abduction, mutilation, the violation of the rights of others, the destruction of the land and crops of farmers and the destruction of property.

Anyone that doubts this should ask the people of the north central zone what they have been suffering in the hands of these vagabonds and vagrants for the last 50 years. This is especially so in Plateau, Benue, Niger, Kwara, Nassarawa, Taraba and Adamawa states.
Yet up until 20 years ago this was essentially a northern problem and it did not affect the south. Sadly that has changed. It has now become a national plague that knows no boundaries and whose poison threatens to consume us all.
In the last few years the Fulani herdsmen have attacked, ravaged and pillaged many rural communities south of the River Niger and they have slaughtered and raped thousands of innocent people in the south-south, the south-east and the south-western zones of our country.
We recall how, after a violent clash between them and some Yoruba farmers in Oyo state in 2000, General Buhari (as he then was) led a strong delegation of northern leaders to see the late Governor of Oyo state, Governor Lam Adeshina. On arrival Buhari put the following question to him: "why are YOUR people killing MY people?" This was a classic case of a Freudian slip.
The Bible says ‘’out of the abundance of the heart the mouth speaks’’. The general had spoken his mind. Governor Adeshina was shocked with disbelief and he responded by telling Buhari that he was rather surprised that a former Head of State would refer to one ethnic group as "his’’ people whilst referring to another as someone elses'.
He said that this was especially so given the fact that people were killed on both sides of the divide in what was a sad and unfortunate conflict.
The insensitivity of Buhari to the Yoruba farmers and their plight in the hands of the Fulani raiders was noted from that moment on. Ever since that conversation took place the lines have been drawn and the south west has been on alert.
The abduction of Falae may well have brought things to a head because today virtually every self-respecting Yoruba man is calling for strong resistance to these alien cattle-rearers whose criminal activities have led to nothing but blood, tears and carnage.
If the government refuses to stop them then it is very clear that some communities may end up doing so themselves.
Yet there is an even more sinister dimension to this problem than most people care to admit. That dimension is best illustrated by the following question.
Can there be any truth in the assertion that the Fulani herdsmen are nothing less than the vanguard and covert armed wing of the Fulani ruling class which has managed to infiltrate the south under the ingenious guise of selling cows?
Are they sleeper cells of a much bigger army and a much wider cause? Are they, as Falae has suggested, working hand in hand with Boko Haram?
If a major conflict were to arise would those sleeper cells be activated and would they commence the wholesale slaughter of the indigenous population in their host states? As painful as it may appear these are questions that we must ask.
The fact that the herdsmen demanded for a 100 million naira ransom from Falae speaks volumes. The question is this: what do mere cattle-rearers want with 100 million naira?
Even more instructive is the fact that when they were offered 2 million naira they responded by saying that that amount would not be enough for Boko Haram.
Given all this it is clear to me that we must begin to look at the wider picture. We must accept the ugly reality that there may be more to all this than meets the eye.
This is especially so given the fact that up until the time of writing this piece not one of Falae's captors has been apprehended by the police and they seem to have vanished into thin air. One wonders what transpired. Were they granted amnesty or are they ghosts?

Can there be any truth in the suggestion that there was some kind of official collusion in the abduction? Was it an attempt to put Falae, and by extension the Yoruba, in their place for vigorously supporting the idea of a national conference?
Is it an attempt to intimidate those from the south west that opposed President Buhari in the 2015 presidential elections? If so it will not work.
Afenifere, the leading socio-cultural group of the south west of which Falae is a leading member, and the Yoruba people generally have a way of rising to the occasion when they are threatened, cheated or persecuted. History proves that.
Worthy of note are the words of Dr. Frederick Fasheun and Otunba Gani Adams, both leaders of the Odua Peoples Congress (OPC) in this matter. Only the unwise would ignore their counsel.

Another curious twist to the tale is the fact that it took the Buhari administration two days to make any formal announcement on Falae's abduction and just the day after they finally did so the elder statesman was suddenly released.

The question is this: who is pulling the strings from behind the scenes and who is attempting to test our resolve and test the waters?
Whatever the answer to these questions are one thing remains clear. The days of killing people with impunity and stripping them of their lands and possessions are long over.
The Fulani herdsmen may well believe that they have one of their own in the Villa today but that does not mean that they will get away with their murderous ways or their sheer impunity.
It is most unwise for them to continue to test the resolve of the people of the south in this way. I say this because collectively southerners are slow to anger but irresistible in battle.
When pushed to the wall they often indulge in what Dr. Amanze Obi, the respected columnist for Nigeria's Sun newspaper, once described as ''southern fury''.
Permit me to conclude this intervention with an interesting and relevant contribution from the famous British historian, writer and educationalist Dr. T.R. Batten. He wrote:

"The Fulani were at their most influential in Gobir.Then a dispute broke out between their Imam, Usman Dan Fodiyo and Sarkin Gobir Yunfa.The Fulani rallied behind their leader who encouraged them to defy their Hausa Chief. He began a jihad and fighting broke out. Thus the Fulani seized the country by force against the will of those who lived there. The enmity had nothing to do with religion for among those who fought (against the Fulani) were many Muslims. It was about the Fulani's wish to seize power from the Hausas."
It follows that the herdsman and those that they represent conquer by infiltration, assimilation and guile. Those that doubt this should find out what became of the ancient Hausa kingdoms. May God deliver us from the vagabonds and vagrants in our midst.

Oga it's ok naa, we thank God for his safe return. You know Fulani herdsmen has their hearts located at their backs. So I thank God for him.

This is serious..

Its time we purge the South of these ungrateful people.

Its now looking more clearer that Falae kidnap was a Staged mischief to cause chaos by people like FFK n co

9jii:
Its now looking more clearer that Falae kidnap was a Staged mischief to cause chaos by people like FFK n co

yoruba man keep living in denial

Well said the west must be protected from this Islamist.

As usual, yorubas won't dare support him

fani kayode elenu ja waya...

egift:


This clown has been forgotten. His 5 minutes of fame has evaporated.

Shut up your mouth emmanuel and stop being a fool on nl......

Respect to the legend Haile salassie.

True talk FFK, our president brothers are evil.

Amen.

FFK made a good point. Left for me, those marauders should be purged out of South completely. They are giving the entire South headache.

From armed robbery on highway to killing of farmers to raping of women to destruction of farmland and now to Kidnapping.

God knows their days are numbered in South.

One Nigeria Indeed.

After a recent conversation i had with a fulani guy, i have come to understand that the problem many communities in Nigeria are having with the fulani might not end in the nearest future. Why? The fulani hardly forgives, and even when they do, they never forget.

FreeGlobe:

yoruba man keep living in denial

Igboman keep living in agony

9jii:

Igboman keep living in agony

Yoruba man keep serving hausa/fulani..

To an average yoruba man, the fulani herdmen are not a problem; they can kill , destroy and kidnap as much as they like in yoruba land . The main problem of average yoruba man are the Igbos pple during their business in lagos. To them, Igbo pple have almost buy half of lagos state and are even participating in lagos politics; this Igbo are the one the yorubas believe should be kicked out of lagos for been too ambitious, not the poor fulani herdmen .

FKK is surely one of the yoruba man who still have his head intact.. I just pray the born to rule in the North don't harm him to shut him up.

I just hope and pray that your fellow Yoruba slaves will understand the evil antiques of their slave-master: the Hausa/Fulani

TINUBU Should come to rescue

Is time for OPC to wake up from their slumber.

FFK is trying too hard to get noticed and called upon to come dine with people at the top of the food chain, just the same way he lashed out endlessly at Jonathan until he was invited to the table. Sadly, that technique seems to have fallen flat on its face this time around, reason why every subsequent article of his becomes laced more and more with inciting ethnic and religious innuendoes.

Everyone know his antecedents hence only barbarians like himself would take him seriously.

When he was on the other side, he insulted the Igbos and PDP making himself look like a pro Yoruba nationalist, when he crossed over, he took it out on Yorubas, becoming a self appointed spokesman for Igbos- for him, it is always about ethnicity and religion, and conveniently so- they happen to be the two elements that are sure to get the juices in Nigerians flowing these days. Even on the forum, any thread that appears to pitch the two tribes or religion against one another run into tens of pages less than 24 hrs after its creation. He speaks and quotes the Bible to appear "christianly" and have gullible Christians file behind him thinking "yes, we've got a fearless valiant who can speak for us, when in fact, his character as a person runs afoul of the teaching of Christ and the doctrine of Christianity- yes, I judge him so.

FFK, like I always say, is a hazard to himself, his family, and a threat to our national security. His desperation and primitive lust for power, money and respect makes him disregard inhibitions and courtesy when he opens his mouth to speak. This same man once told us Jonathan was bound to bring nothing but doom to this nation and other such statements, today,.....

I believe when all the dust settles, people like himself wouldn't even get as much as a cold floor by the porch upon which to lay their wasted bodies, let alone given press coverage.

Only time would tell.

omenka:
FFK is trying too hard to get noticed and called upon to come dine with people at the top of the food chain, just the same way he lashed out endlessly at Jonathan until he was invited to the table. Sadly, that technique seems to have fallen flat on its face this time around, reason why every subsequent article of his becomes laced more and more with inciting ethnic and religious innuendoes.

Everyone know his antecedents hence only barbarians like himself would take him seriously.

When he was on the other side, he insulted the Igbos and PDP making himself look like a pro Yoruba nationalist, when he crossed over, he took it out on Yorubas, becoming a self appointed spokesman for Igbos- for him, it is always about ethnicity and religion, and conveniently so- they happen to be the two elements that are sure to get the juices in Nigerians flowing these days. Even on the forum, any thread that appears to pitch the two tribes or religion against one another run into tens of pages less than 24 hrs after its creation. He speaks and quotes the Bible to appear "christianly" and have gullible Christians file behind him thinking "yes, we've got a fearless valiant who can speak for us, when in fact, his character as a person runs afoul of the teaching of Christ and the doctrine of Christianity- yes, I judge him so.

FFK, like I always say, is a hazard to himself, his family, and a threat to our national security. His desperation and primitive lust for power, money and respect makes him disregard inhibitions and courtesy when he opens his mouth to speak. This same man once told us Jonathan was bound to bring nothing but doom to this nation and other such statements, today,.....

I believe when all the dust settles, people like himself wouldn't even get as much as a cold floor by the porch upon which to lay their wasted bodies, let alone given press coverage.

Only time would tell.

All these epistles because of FFK ba?

Mr Oga, address the issue nah and let FFK be.

Thank you.


What say ye about the killing, rape, destruction of farmland and now adultnapping by the fulanis?

omenka:
FFK is trying too hard to get noticed and called upon to come dine with people at the top of the food chain, just the same way he lashed out endlessly at Jonathan until he was invited to the table. Sadly, that technique seems to have fallen flat on its face this time around, reason why every subsequent article of his becomes laced more and more with inciting ethnic and religious innuendoes.

Everyone know his antecedents hence only barbarians like himself would take him seriously.

When he was on the other side, he insulted the Igbos and PDP making himself look like a pro Yoruba nationalist, when he crossed over, he took it out on Yorubas, becoming a self appointed spokesman for Igbos- for him, it is always about ethnicity and religion, and conveniently so- they happen to be the two elements that are sure to get the juices in Nigerians flowing these days. Even on the forum, any thread that appears to pitch the two tribes or religion against one another run into tens of pages less than 24 hrs after its creation. He speaks and quotes the Bible to appear "christianly" and have gullible Christians file behind him thinking "yes, we've got a fearless valiant who can speak for us, when in fact, his character as a person runs afoul of the teaching of Christ and the doctrine of Christianity- yes, I judge him so.

FFK, like I always say, is a hazard to himself, his family, and a threat to our national security. His desperation and primitive lust for power, money and respect makes him disregard inhibitions and courtesy when he opens his mouth to speak. This same man once told us Jonathan was bound to bring nothing but doom to this nation and other such statements, today,.....

I believe when all the dust settles, people like himself wouldn't even get as much as a cold floor by the porch upon which to lay their wasted bodies, let alone given press coverage.

Only time would tell.

you left the substance of the argument to attack FFK personality. fallacy