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Tag: Ile-Ife crisis

  • ACF to Yoruba Elders: Don’t give ethnic coloration to Ile-ife crisis

    ACF to Yoruba Elders: Don’t give ethnic coloration to Ile-ife crisis

    Mouthpiece of Northern Nigeria, Arewa Consultative Forum (ACF) has appealed to Yoruba elders to in the interest of national unity restrain from giving ethnic coloration to the unfortunate crisis that erupted in Ile-ife, Osun State recently.

    ACF said, described the clash between some Yoruba and Hausa traders as criminality, which it said does not know ethnicity or religion.

    The Northern socio-cultural group in a statement by its Publicity Secretary, Muhammadu Ibrahim noted with dismay, accusations by some Yoruba leaders that the Police report on the clash was biased, as the suspects paraded by the police were alleged to be mainly Yoruba.

    It therefore cautioned that, disagreement between individuals or groups of persons that are regarded as ethnic or religious tend to deepen hatred and division among Nigerians, therefore, elders known for their wisdom in settling disputes should not fan embers of divisions among their followers.

    According to the statement, “after the unfortunate clash that happened two weeks ago at Ile-Ife, Osun State between some Yoruba and Hausa traders, Arewa Consultative Forum (ACF) in our reaction condemned the killings and called on all and sundry involved to eschew bitterness and imbibe the spirit of accommodation and tolerance.

    “ACF commended the prompt action taken by the Security Agencies, the Osun State Government and Community leaders to restore peace and normalcy in Ile-Ife.

    “ACF also called on the various communities that have lived together in peace and harmony over the years to always exercise restraints in their utterances on such sensitive issues that might snowball into crises with reprisal consequences. Our position was widely published in both print and electronic media.

    “Unfortunately, subsequent events after the preliminary investigation report of the Police into the Ile-Ife crisis, there have been accusations by some Yoruba leaders that the Police report was biased, as the suspects paraded by the police were alleged to be mainly Yoruba.

    “ACF’s position in this regard is to appeal to the respected Elders of Yoruba not to give unnecessary ethnic coloration to the unfortunate Ile-Ife clash as criminality knows no ethnicity or religion.

    “Any slightest disagreements between individuals or groups of persons that are regarded as ethnic or religious tend to deepen hatred and division among Nigerians. Elders are known for their wisdom in settling disputes and not to fan embers of divisions among their followers.

    “ACF therefore, once more calls for restraints among the various community leaders and urge them to document their grievances and channel same through our known legal process of addressing such grievances, rather than making provocative and inciting statement capable of creating disunity”, the statement read.

     

  • Ile-Ife crisis and govt’s provocative response

    Ile-Ife crisis and govt’s provocative response

    THE federal government has responded overwhelmingly to the ethnic clash that occurred in Ile-Ife two weeks ago. Arrests have been made, and some of the suspects have been moved to Abuja, the federal capital city, and paraded humiliatingly before newsmen. It is not known why that was necessary. Even though some Ife groups and the pan-Yoruba socio-cultural and political organisation, the Afenifere, have alleged bias against law enforcement agencies, it is clear that one visit after another, many dignitaries, including the Internal Affairs minister, have shown interest in nipping in the bud a crisis that started as a small disagreement between a Yoruba woman and a Hausa man.

    It is hoped that before the affair is laid to rest, patriotic public officers saddled with law enforcement and security responsibilities will get to the bottom of the crisis, identify the real culprits, apportion blame appropriately, and prosecute the offenders. However, except they are living in denial, the federal government, the presidency and a section of the security and law enforcement agencies cannot claim not to know that they have been accused of bias several times. Ife groups and the Afenifere should go ahead and document their grievances against the security agencies and present them before the public.

    If the federal government could react so overwhelmingly and promptly, though controversially, to the Ife crisis, it is surprising that they were lethargic in responding to the bloody conflict that erupted between herdsmen and the Agatu people in Benue State in February 2016. Even when herdsmen openly claimed responsibility for masterminding what they described as revenge attacks on Tiv towns, during which more than 300 people were massacred, not one person was arrested, and no one was ferried to Abuja. Instead, the government waffled over casualty figures.

    And when a mob of religious fanatics murdered Bridget Agbahime in the presence of her husband and witnesses in Kano last June, state prosecutors inexplicably withdrew charges against the five suspects on trial without the federal government lifting a finger or saying a word. It undermines national stability and unity when the federal government is accused of bias or when it gives the impression that some lives matter more than others. When citizens lose confidence in the government as an impartial arbiter, they may find self-help a tantalising prospect. That is the terrible danger Nigeria faces today.

    The printer’s devil ensured that this piece was published last week under a different and misleading headline. The error is regretted. It is repeated today under the right heading and with a few adjustments.

  • IGP briefs Buhari on Zaki Biam, Ile-Ife, other crises

    IGP briefs Buhari on Zaki Biam, Ile-Ife, other crises

    The Inspector General of Police (IGP), Ibrahim Idris on Friday briefed President Muhammadu Buhari on security crises in the country.

    This included the Zaki Biam crisis in Benue State and Ile-Ife crisis in Osun State which resulted in the death of many Nigerians.

    Speaking with State House correspondents at the end of the meeting, he said “I came to see the President to update him on the deployment of the police in our effort to ensure that we have security all over the country.

    “Obviously it’s to share with him our deployment strategies on ground our deployment to some of these flash points all over the country, especially Benue which is the current one, deployment to Kaduna state which started some few weeks back and deployment to the Ile-Ife crisis where recently we have a lot of police officers both special squads and investigation team on ground to conduct investigation on the matter.

    On allegation that policemen only arrested people from one section of the country during the Ile-Ife crisis, he said “You know we are police officers, crime has no tribe if you are a criminal you are a criminal. Crime has no face; we don’t look at crime in the identity of where you are coming from. As far as you are a criminal and the police find you wanting we apply the law.

    Speaking on the crisis in Benue State, he said “We deployed mobile police unit on 16th of this month and of recent that incident that happened at Zaki Biam there are allegations on that Gana, one of the wanted man, this man has been in the police wanted list I now decided to deploy some special unit both investigative to go after him and get him by all means, like I said earlier definitely that man we are going to get him.”

    He also ruled out the possibility of Fulani herdsmen being responsible for the Zaki Biam crisis.

    He said “No I don’t think it’s Fulani herdsmen, it was an activity of a criminal who is using some of his criminal gangs in the state to harass people that I have assured the governor when I met with him few days ago.”

    On the alleged dissatisfaction of the President over resurgence of crimes in the country while he was away in the United Kingdom, he said “I think we are all in this country, the crisis in Kogi axis is not kidnapping, it’s a case of militants wanting to disrupt the peace in that state and we are out to get them.

    Asked to speak on the specific directives given to him by the President, he said “Obviously there should be a specific directive to ensure that all of us use all the facilities at our disposal to make sure that some of these incidents we are talking about are brought under control as soon as possible.

    “I gave the President my assurance that we are going to do that. Like I said earlier we have deplored a special squad to Benue and we are surely going to get that Gana  within a short time.” he said

    On the claim that the police has no strategy for fighting crimes in the country, he said “You know some of these crisis, we have to look at the origin of these crisis and the immediate cause for you to make a proper classification of these crimes,

    “If you follow some of these crimes, they are just crimes that happened without any warning, if you look at that Ife crisis, if you see how it started its just a disagreement between two people selling food along the road, so you have to look at the dynamics of the country itself.

    “Obviously when you have such situation we have to react to it. We had to move in to ensure we provide some security to the people,” he added.

  • Ile-Ife crisis: Kaduna govt meets ethnic leaders

    Kaduna State Acting Governor Barnabas Bala Bantex yesterday met with leaders of ethnic communities towards dousing tension that may lead to reprisal attacks following the crisis in Ile-Ife, Osun State.

    Bantex warned against trying to incite unnecessary tensions in the state because of events  happening elsewhere, saying such those involved should desist from circulating videos and images with inciting comments and calls for reprisals.

    The acting governor admonished the leaders to prevail on their subjects to uphold peace, remain calm.

    “Those trying to incite unnecessary tension because of what is happening in Ile-Ife, Osun State, should desist from such.

    “Already, the unfortunate incident has been contained and the government will not allow enemies of peace capitalise on the situation to cause problems in Kaduna.

    “People circulating images and calling for reprisals are enemies of peace, and everybody must say no to them. The government will ensure that anyone or group of persons distributing images and videos calling for revenge are arrested and prosecuted.

    “Citizens must support the government to ensure that every threat to law and order is defeated”, he said.

    Bantex described the Southern Kaduna crisis as criminal and banditry, and not a Christian versus Muslim crisis as widely believed.

    According to him, the most peaceful council in Kaduna is Jaba, one of the eight councils that make up the ‘Zone 3’, called Southern Kaduna.

    Leader of the Community Leaders Forum delegation and President-General of the Yoruba Traditional Rulers Council in the 19 Northern States, Alhaji Abdulganiyu Oguntoyinbo, said masterminds of the Ile-Ife crisis are not representing the Yoruba as a people.

    He urged the Yoruba community in Kaduna and the North to remain calm, peaceful and shun reprisals.

    “We are tired of spilling blood and, therefore, appeal to our political, religious and traditional leaders to, irrespective of their differences, unite and find a lasting solution to the recurring crises”.

  • Crisis: IGP deploys special force to Ile-Ife

    The Inspector-General of Police, Ibrahim Idris, has deployed a Police Special Intervention Force (SIF) to Ile-Ife, Osun State, to restore lasting peace in the area.

    The Force Spokesman, Jimoh Moshood, said on Thursday in Abuja that the SIF would be led by Commissioner of Police in charge of Police Mobile Force (PMF), Force Headquarters.

    He said the SIF comprises five units of PMF, specially trained Anti- Riot Policemen, five cells of Counter Terrorism Unit, and Conventional Policemen.

    Others are Special Anti- Robbery Squad, Intelligence Response Team, Technical Intelligence Unit (SIB), detachment of EOD and Police K9 (Sniffer Dogs Section).

    He said the operations of SIF will cover entire Ile-Ife and environs and other flashpoints in the state.

    Moshood said members of SIF were on the ground, working in synergy with the police command in the state to ensure total peace and normalcy.

    The police spokesman said to achieve success in the operations, the Force would be proactive and strict in the enforcement of its mandate.

    “The Force will ensure full enforcement of the curfew imposed on Ile-Ife and environs by the Osun Government,” he said.

    NAN