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Tag: invasion

  • Boroffice condemns invasion of Ondo Assembly

    The senator representing Ondo North, Prof. Ajayi Boroffice, has condemned the violent invasion of the Ondo State House of Assembly by members of the National Union of Road Transport Workers (NURTW) last Friday.

    The union members attacked lawmakers, workers and reporters on the Assembly complex.

    The senator described the invasion as an ugly political decadence that should be condemned.

    A statement by his Press Secretary, Kayode Fakuyi, said: “In Ondo State, there is an evolving trend of violent interference and fierce intervention of NURTW members in political affairs and state matters. Thus, security agencies need to swiftly check and curb the trend.

    “Aftermath of the invasion, an atmosphere of fear and insecurity has been ignited. It is, therefore, incumbent on security agencies to immediately restore an atmosphere of peace and tranquillity for legislative activities to thrive and flourish.”

    Boroffice urged the Inspector General of Police (IGP) to ensure tight security to protect the lives of members of the House of Assembly.

  • Invasion qua invasion

    In this column penultimate Monday, we had drawn attention to the dangers to our democracy of rising deployment of security apparatus and ancillary agencies to resolve political disagreements.

    We were agitated by the futile attempt by a band of eight legislators in a 30-member Benue State House of Assembly goaded by the police to impeach the governor, Samuel Ortom. Ironically, an attempt by a presidential aide to distance Buhari from the infamy left the substantive issue of who authorized the partisan deployment of the police unaddressed.

    With such a disturbing culture of silence in the face of obvious assaults to democratic norms, the inescapable suspicion was that the government in power is vicariously complicit in the unlawful deployment of security machinery.  The article concluded “if increasing intolerance of dissent, subversion of due process and partisan deployment of security and ancillary agencies to further political ends do not take the back seat, 2019 may be the nation’s albatross”.

    It therefore came as an uncanny coincidence last Tuesday when the nation witnessed one of the greatest assaults to its citadel of democracy- the National Assembly. Hooded operatives of the Department of Security Services DSS acting on ‘orders from above’ invaded the premises preventing legislators and workers from gaining access into it. It was a spectacle to behold as the DSS lockdown lasted but not without some stiff resistance from some legislators.

    Nobody knew what was amiss even as allegations trended that a group of lawmakers intent in impeaching the senate president and his deputy albeit illegally, were in connivance with that security outfit for that reign of impunity and embarrassment to the nation and the international community. But respite came later in the day when news filtered that the Director General of DSS, Lawal Daura had been ignominiously sacked by the acting president, Yemi Osinbajo for venturing beyond his scope of authority. The government went further to distance itself from that show of shame since it was neither privy to it nor consulted.

    That is the way it should be. Osinbajo has clearly shown the impatience of the government with serial acts of impunity by its security agencies in sorting out matters of partisan political dimension. That adroit move should be appreciated.

    Before the latest incident, some hoodlums had invaded the plenary of the senate and made away with its symbol of authority-the Mace in the full glare of the retinue of security agencies manning that symbol of our democracy. The police was later to find the mace abandoned under the bridge. Nothing has since been heard of that wanton desecration of the senate.

    Just recently also, the residences of the senate president and his deputy were sealed off by the police and the EFCC respectively in an early morning show preventing them from leaving. Ironically, the police claimed ignorance of events at the residence of the senate president claiming rather the incident was stage managed by the senate president’s personal security. They promised to empanel investigation. Nothing has been heard of it ever since. Of course, mentioned has been made of the invasion of the Benue State assembly by a minority group of eight assembly men under police protection. The list of partisan deployments of the police and the EFCC to hound opposition is endless.

    These happened while President Buhari was around without any decisive action to rein in the offenders thus fuelling speculations that those who took laws into their hands were not acting alone. It is therefore not surprising there are insinuations that the situation may have been the same were he to be around as the latest siege lasted. His media aide Femi Adesina seemed to have responded to such insinuations when he strove to convince reporters that the presidency is united as there is no struggle for supremacy.

    Even as it is procedural to expect that consultations would have been made at the highest levels before the sack, credit must still go to Osinbajo given that past infractions were treated with utmost levity. This is not the first time the acting president would be demonstrating commitment to the preservation of the sanctity of democracy.  He had also during his previous acting capacity averted crisis in the judiciary when he sent the name of Justice Walter Onnoghen to the senate for confirmation with only two days to the end of his acting mandate.

    But the sack of Daura has also come with some scenario conjectures. The first is that the government is privy to the deployment of the DSS to enable loyal senators actuate leadership change given the defection of Saraki to the opposition. Those opposed to Saraki never hid this ambition. The suspicion was such that the opposition had to place within the public space, allegation of impending illegal impeachment and fingered Buhari’s foreign trip as a subterfuge to give room for it.

    It is therefore either the government never took serious the threats by the anti Saraki senators; allegations of it by the opposition or it knew of them and allowed things to sort themselves out. Its corollary is that the government knew of the plan as it stood to benefit from it only to turn round to sacrifice Daura when the bubble burst.

    Those who canvass this scenario contend that as Buhari’s kinsman and key member of the cabal, Daura could not have been acting in a vacuum. After all, he is not a direct beneficiary of leadership change in the senate. This school believes he could not have possibly acted alone but was sacrifice to save face when the plan turned awry. This scenario cannot be wished away.

    There is also the counter speculation that Saraki worked in concert with Daura to invade the National Assembly so as to embarrass the presidency and attract sympathy for himself. This possibility cannot fly for a number of self evident reasons. The DSS neither takes instructions from Saraki nor is there any evidence of that affinity. Before now, that agency is known to have taken similar illegal actions as illustrated by its invasion of the residences and arrest of some justices. As a very close ally and kinsman of the president, the possibility that he could be acting out a script for Saraki is patently inconceivable. Propping up such theory can only reinforce the suspicion that the government is bent on holding on to anything to cover up the embarrassment.

    Those throwing up such suggestions are not helping matters. The key thing is that Osinbajo has taken the right measure by sacking Daura. If Daura was made scapegoat to save the face of the government, the end has justified the means. Had such measures been taken in previous breaches, the government would have exorcised the ghost of impunity and lawlessness that has been tilting the nation towards anarchy.

    Saraki can be impeached if he must. But those who seek to impeach him must abide by extant rules in achieving that objective. Procuring the services of the police to help the impeachment process has all the trappings of illegality and ultimately bound to fail. There is the argument that he does not have the moral ground to remain in the position having defected to the opposition.

    But where there is conflict between morality and constitutionality, the former gives way. That is the situation we are faced with irrespective of the fact that such scenario had played out at the House of Representatives in the build up to the 2015 elections. Nobody went for the head of the speaker then.

    Beyond Daura’s sack, independent inquiry into the conspiracy that brought about the disingenuous pass is required to clear the mess. This is a season of defections. Sadly, there are no perceptible indices in the conduct of defectors to merit ascribing any ideological prompting to the seeming realignment of political forces.

  • ‘Invasion of National Assembly bad’

    An aspirant for the House of Representatives from  Idemili North & South constituency of Anambra State, Uche Annie-Okonkwo, has condemned the invasion of the National Assembly by operatives of the Department of State Security (DSS).

    Annie-Okonkwo, in a statement yesterday, said the DSS must apologise to Nigerians and ensure such never repeat itself.

    He said: “There are behaviours that are not just unacceptable, but pointedly so grievous and completely abhorrent. No worse act can be this abhorrent, than the rehearsed anarchy rendered in dark hoods by the DSS upon this often harassed totem of our democracy. In fact, it was an absurd theatre with no sense, too dense, with neither mirth nor rhyme.

    ”Together for Everybody—working for everyone” teamwork advocacy to facilitate Nigerian youths to take better charge of their governance arena, I was transfixed with shock when my supporters that are working so hard for me, drew my attention to what was then happening at the National Assembly, a house I ask them to vote me into and urge even more to aspire to. That was too much institutional thuggery and a debasement difficult to contain.

    ”Yes, it was good news that the architect of this script was sacked expressly, possibly even under house arrest for a prosecution that should be equally express, I therefore advise and dare to demand, that for those who my aspiration inspire, and the goodwill of mentors I draw from, an apology from the DSS is not just expedient but a healthy disinfectant  to isolate the act as personal, not a routine duty protocol.”

     

  • Ex-Speaker, others condemn invasion of APC secretariat

    EX-Speaker of Abia State House of Assembly Martins Azubuike and other stakeholders of All Progressives Congress (APC) have condemned the invasion of their secretariat in Umuahia by hoodlums.

    Hoodlums allegedly hired by factional chairman Emmanuel Ndukwe, last Friday, invaded the party’s secretariat and stole money and valuable documents.

    The Chairman, Donatus Nwankpa, said they were still taking stock to know if other items were stolen.

    Azubuike noted that it’s unfortunate that the ugly incident happened while party leaders were meeting to restore peace and sanity.

    He called on supporters to be firm, saying the APC would not be distracted by clandestine moves to cause confusion.

    Azubuike said: “It is an unfortunate situation happening in our state at a time like this.

    ‘’It is condemnable, especially coming from no other person than Chief Ikechi Emenike, who should be a leader. I’m sad about the invasion of the Abia APC secretariat and I condemn it.”

  • Reflections on Senate invasion

    The physical assault on the upper chamber of the National Assembly on April 18 has no comparison in Nigeria’s political history. Although there are parliamentary skirmishes in some of our legislatures in the past, the only comparable event was that of Western House of Assembly in Ibadan in 1962. It was the hey day of the internecine war between Awolowo and Akintola factions of the Action Group, the dominant political party in Western Nigeria in those early days.

    The Ibadan event led to serious political and constitutional developments, mostly negative, until these events engulfed Nigeria in the civil war of 1967 to 1970.

    There is a difference though between what happened this year and the event of 1962. While the latter could be traced to factionalism within a party, this year’s sordid happening should be seen in a larger context. It was invasion by ‘outsiders’ on Nigeria’s parliament. It could probably have been ignited by both intra and inter party squabbles, but one must be honest to admit the fact that it assumes a larger dimension than anything that has happened in our political process since the British departed our shores in 1960.

    More ominously, it happened in a parliament that has become the most criticized, perhaps the most hated national institution of our time. Don’t they deserve this odious perception? They do. It is the only institution of state that keeps the financial benefits it derives from the state under wraps. If for anything else, this veiled attempt at institutional cover up will continue to give the hallowed chamber a bad name, irrespective of its performance.

    Throughout our experience in constitutional governance, it is the only parliament where the government party and the opposition coalesce together in a marriage that negates constitutional set up of government and opposition. It is believed members are not divided on party lines at all; indeed there is a very thin layer of difference between the two major parties in the National Assembly.

    Some people have alleged that the senator from Delta was the arrow head of the attempted civilian coup. If this was true, the prospects are frightening indeed. This is so because many Nigerians believe that at one time in the future, considering the wide gap between the poor and the rich, the millions of unemployed youth, many of whom have good professional certificates, may become restless and would just enter and sack the National Assembly. That could be the beginning of the beginning-apologies to K.O. Mbadiwe.

    The National Assembly could be a natural target since most Nigerians believe that they are taking more than their fair share of the national cake. In fact there is a general belief that more about five percent of national income is consumed by the National Assembly with population of less than five thousand. Sure, the other branches of government – the executive and judiciary are not inhabited by saints. As everybody who cares knows what the Chief Justice of Nigeria, the president, the minister etc takes from the national till are no secret whereas the earnings of members of the National Assembly are shrouded in secrecy,  making people believe that presiding officers of the two chambers earn as much as N35 million per month. And also that senators and members of House of Representatives take N15 million to N20 million per month. In a country where poverty is literally crawling of its four legs, the inequality is certainly unacceptable.

    In some cases, the National Assembly is its own worst enemy. The general belief is that members dare not express different view points from those of the presiding officers or the assembly’s leadership as a whole. In a supposedly liberal democracy, it is wrong for a member to be expelled because he holds contrary views to popular palace positions.

    Indeed Nigeria needs restructuring but not the physical, geographical or financial compartments which some people envisage but the restructuring of the mind and orientation will perform the magic which we envisage for the betterment of our country.

    This 8th assembly should have a rethink. They should be apprehensive about what Nigerians think about them. Besides the annual ritual of senators and members of the House of Representative reaching out to their constituents with singlets, motorcycles and palm wine on annual basis, and beyond what they call constituency projects, they are one day going to dissolve into the larger society where they may not find life comfortable with their unearned billions.

    Although Nigerians are reputed to forget and ignore events so easily, actions bordering on the notorious looting of the national treasury is certainly one that they cannot easily forget.

    Expectedly, this strange event has continued to attract comments across Nigeria. In particular pundits have a field day drawing conclusions. One that is particularly cynical is that the invasion of the Senate is as result of the continuation of events that happened in Kwara State some 20 to 30 years ago. This was when they alleged the Saraki dynasty was imposing its will on the hapless Kwarans. This is a reference to the assumed power of Bukola Saraki over his distinguished colleagues. This power of money and sinecure positions, are what is propelling the assembly resulting into the negative image. It is indeed a black spot in our constitutional history.

    But two issues stand out clear. One: Is it an offence or constitutional breach for a senator to have different views and express these views openly against the leadership position? Two: How did the present Senate leadership emerge in the first place? Is it not by cunning, by conspiracy or by some subterfuge? Until these two issues are resolve, the 8th Assembly particularly the Senate will continue to attract deserved odium from Nigerians.

    • Fasuan MON; JP writes from Ado-Ekiti.
  • Vice Chancellor decries invasion of varsity’s land

    Vice Chancellor decries invasion of varsity’s land

    •Says FUTO under siege

    The Vice Chancellor of the Federal University of Technology, Owerri (FUTO), Prof. Francis Eze, has said the university is threatened by the activities of land speculators who have invaded its land.

    Prof. Eze lamented that the encroachment on the university land, by unauthorised land grabbers, poses serious danger to lives and property of the management and students, as well as the corporate existence of the institution.

    The VC, who addressed reporters at the Senate Chambers, said the forceful takeover of the institution’s land recently assumed a dangerous dimension with the pulling down of the exit gate and the security house by the invaders.

    He said: “The University duly acquired the land in compliance with laid down procedures, including the full payment of all settlements to the host communities. But the recent encroachment on its land is so overwhelming that you can call it an invasion.”

    Prof. Eze, who conducted reporters round the institution’s boundaries with their host communities of Eziobodo, Iheagwa, Obinze and Avu, warned that “all those patronising land speculators, buying FUTO’s land and building on them, will lose their money as the buildings will be demolished.

    “We have started the perimeter fencing of the university, at a huge cost, just to protect the land.

    “Last time, some people brought heavy equipment and pulled down our gate house. It is that bad but we will no longer allow that. All those buying and building on FUTO land are doing so at their own risk,” the VC added.

  • Vice Chancellor decries invasion of varsity’s land

    Vice Chancellor decries invasion of varsity’s land

    The Vice Chancellor of the Federal University of Technology, Owerri (FUTO), Prof. Francis Eze, has said the university is threatened by the activities of land speculators who have invaded its land.

    Prof. Eze lamented that the encroachment on the university land, by unauthorised land grabbers, poses serious danger to lives and property of the management and students, as well as the corporate existence of the institution.

    The VC, who addressed reporters at the Senate Chambers, said the forceful takeover of the institution’s land recently assumed a dangerous dimension with the pulling down of the exit gate and the security house by the invaders.

    He said: “The University duly acquired the land in compliance with laid down procedures, including the full payment of all settlements to the host communities. But the recent encroachment on its land is so overwhelming that you can call it an invasion.”

    Prof. Eze, who conducted reporters round the institution’s boundaries with their host communities of Eziobodo, Iheagwa, Obinze and Avu, warned that “all those patronising land speculators, buying FUTO’s land and building on them, will lose their money as the buildings will be demolished.

    “We have started the perimeter fencing of the university, at a huge cost, just to protect the land.

    “Last time, some people brought heavy equipment and pulled down our gate house. It is that bad but we will no longer allow that. All those buying and building on FUTO land are doing so at their own risk,” the VC added.

  • Akoko monarchs, others meet over herdsmen’s ‘invasion’

    Akoko monarchs, others meet over herdsmen’s ‘invasion’

    Traditional rulers in Akoko community of Ondo State, in collaboration with prominent community leaders, yesterday held a meeting at Isua, headquarters of Akoko South East Local Government Area, on security matter.

    This followed the invasion of Ikaram Auga-Akunu-Akoko in the Northern District of the state by suspected Fulani herdsmen in four trailers.

    They were said to have left Iseyin in Oyo State to settle in Akoko on the invitation of a Fulani settler.

    The stakeholders’ meeting was chaired by the Olisua of Isua-Akoko, Oba Afesuloye Oyolola, who hailed Governor Oluwarotimi Akeredolu for maintaining law and order across the state.

    The participants reiterated their belief in peaceful co-existence and Nigeria’s nationalities.

    They recognised the right of every citizen to pursue his or business without hindrances.

    But the Akoko monarchs and eminent stakeholders opposed the establishment of a cattle colony in any part of the community.

    This, they maintained, would ensure that the rightful owners are not deprived of their landed property and crops.

    The Akoko leaders condemned the recent invasion of Ikaram-Auga-Akunu and Isua by Fulani herdsmen.

    They lauded the efforts of law enforcement agents and the state government for curtailing tension that followed the invasion.

    The meeting noted that shortage of security personnel necessitated the setting up of vigilance groups to be monitored by the monarchs for more effective maintenance of law and order.

    Besides, it urged the state government to make a law that will regulate open grazing by herdsmen.

    The meeting was attended by Olukare of Ikare-Akoko, Oba Akadiri Momoh, who is also the Chairman of the Council of Obas; the Olubaka of Oka-Akoko, Oba Adebori Adeleye; the Akala of Ikaram, Oba Andrew Momodu and Owa of Igbagi, Oba Victor Olasehinde, among others.

  • Senators allege foreign militia invasion

    Senators allege foreign militia invasion

    SENATORS were talking tough again yesterday.

    They raised the alarm over alleged occupation of parts of Nigeria by foreign militia men who kill, maim and abduct Nigerians for ransom.

    The lawmakers came short of pushing for the resignation of President Muhammadu Buhari for allegedly looking the other way while Nigerians are being killed by marauders invaders.

    The session came on the heels of Tuesday’s 14-day ultimatum for Inspector General of Police Ibrahim Idris to fish out the perpetrators of the New Year’s Day massacre in Benue State.

    Over 70 people killed in the mayhem were buried in a mass grave in the state capital, Makurdi, last week.

    At the end of the debate, the upper chamber resolved to suspend plenary for two days next week to convoke a security summit to enable stakeholders to dissect the worrisome situation and a way forward.

    The debate followed a motion of urgent national importance raised by Senator Shuiabu Lau on the gory state of affairs in Taraba State.

    Lau, who represents Taraba North, said over 70 people have died in the conflict, which started in Numan, Adamawa State.

    The situation, he said, portends a grave danger to national security.

    Hardly had Lau concluded his narrative when Senator Ben Murray-Bruce said that the country appear to have become lawless.

    The Bayelsa East lawmaker said it was disgusting that everyday someone either get killed, kidnapped, or raped without those charged with the protection of lives and property doing anything.

    He noted that it was not in doubt that the country is being occupied by trained militia who kill at will.

    Murray-Bruce insisted that it was not “acceptable for the country to be invaded by foreign mercenaries and all we do is have conversations; enough is enough.”

    He noted that if the executive arm of the government wanted the Senate to do its work, Senate President Bukola Saraki should immediately be appointed President so that he could deal with issues decisively.

    He added that Saraki seemed to be the only person concerned about the worsening security situation.

    Senator Kabiru Marafa (Zamfara Central) told his colleagues that Zamfara State was being occupied by a militia.

    Senator Abdullahi Adamu (Nasarawa West) cautioned that it was wrong for senators to hide under legislative immunity to attack others.

    Adamu said that it was wrong to lump all the actions of the government and paint them black.

    He vowed that he was going to be the lone voice in defence of the government, he was prepared to bear his father’s name.

    The former Nasarawa State governor, however, added that his caution against sweeping abuse of the government did not mean that the country was not facing security challenges.

    Murray-Bruce said: “It seems to me that Nigeria is becoming a lawless country. A country with no rules and regulation, a country where laws are not adhered to. A country where there is no consequence for bad behaviour. We have a government, security agents, or we don’t. These are the fundamental issues at stake today because every day since we got here someone has got killed, raped, throat slit, killed at gun point and every day we have resolutions and nothing is done.

    “It is time the Federal Government of Nigeria act because they have been voted into office; they have an executive function to protect the lives and properties of Nigeria. This is one of many examples that we have been accosted with since we have been in this hollow chambers. I am disgusted by what I am hearing.

    “It is disgusting to find pregnant women their stomach slit, unborn babies removed and if these herdsmen are allowed to continue to rampage then frankly speaking, they are a terrorist organisation and a terrorist organisation must be dealt with decisively by the military.

    ”It is no longer a situation where we call on police men who do not have the arms or training to face folks with AK 47, well trained militia, those who now occupy lands that belong to Nigeria. If we can fight Boko Haram we can fight the herdsmen. If the security agencies cannot do their job then the leadership must be fired.

    “There must be consequence for bad behaviour. You are either in control or you are not. The ministers in charge should resign Nigerians involved should be fired or resign otherwise they should be impeached. Nigerians to be killed like cattle, it is not acceptable for the country to be invaded by foreign mercenaries and all we do is have conversations, enough is enough. I am urging the Federal Government of Nigeria to wake up.

    ”It is as if the Senate is now the executive arm of government. I am just sorry for my colleague. Senator Marafa in a closed door session told us what is happening in Zamfara State but he didn’t say it in open house. What he said here frightened everyone. Zamfara State is being occupied by foreign mercenaries.

    ”That is a fact of life. If that is the case, what are we doing about it. If the people responsible for the protection of lives and propriety in Nigeria cannot do their job, what happens in civilised countries, they are fired.

    ”Senator Shehu Sani on Television today (yesterday) explained it eloquently and he was dead on point. If the FG wants to run a red chamber to become the executive in Nigeria, then let us appoint the Senate President to be the President of Nigeria.  Let us do the job of the executive because it doesn’t make any sense. Every day we deal with all these issues. Babies are being brought into this world with no future. As soon as they grow up they pick up AK 47 and start killing fellow human beings. All we do is talk, talk, talk, talk.

    “The minister of defence should tell us what he is doing; If the cabinet is incompetent then we should fire them. You don’t understand this. Maybe cameras should go and see these dead bodies. May NBC should change its laws and go and see these bodies as if we are in Liberia or Cameroun. We are becoming a barbaric nation with no respect for life. The executive should speak today and explain to Nigerians what is happening in this country.

    ”If Saraki is the only one interested, let him become the president of Nigeria and that solves the problem. We cannot continue like this. We either fix this problem or everybody should shut up and resign from public office.”

    Marafa said: “Mr President, also permit me to say that while we were discussing this yesterday, I received a call this morning from my home town that some people were kidnapped.

    “Zamfara State is now under the control of the militia and the most sad thing (sic) Mr. President, is that the governor knows these people, the deputy governor knows these people. I want to say it again and again that the governor knows the perpetrators of this crime. They move around freely with their arms. I said it yesterday I was home during the fuel crisis.

    “In my own town, they are the ones that judge between people. The people no longer go to the local authorities, that is, the emirs and chiefs, they don’t go to police, if there is a problem they go to the bush and tell these people that ‘I have a problem with somebody’.  This is a national emergency. In all the local governments, this is the truth of the matter. “

    Senator Isah Hamman Misau (Bauchi Central) said: “When we were on holiday, so many people were going behind that they should try and remove the Senate President. During this holiday, a minister was spearheading the plot. What is the reason? They said that the Senate President would leave APC, that they should create problems for him. What kind of country is this? Everything is about religion, about tribe.

    “It is high time for us to do something. If it is about talking here or holding conference, it will not solve this problem. We should look at the security, who and who are holding offices; are they appointed by merit?

    “So many appointments in this government are not on merit. Some people have taken over the government as if they are even above the President. We say we are fighting corruption, Babachir David Lawal, former Secretary to the Government of the Federation) that the Vice-President’s committee indicted, they are pursuing other people. Why can’t they take Babachir to court and all of us are here keeping quiet? People who have not done anything are always in court.

    “This Attorney-General is becoming a nuisance, going to court to stop Maina (probe) and we are still here talking.”

  • Fayose rallies Ekiti hunters against herdsmen’s ‘invasion’

    Fayose rallies Ekiti hunters against herdsmen’s ‘invasion’

    Ekiti State Governor Ayo Fayose yesterday rallied local hunters against possible invasion by suspected Fulani herdsmen.

    Sounding the battle cry while hosting some hunters at the Government House pavilion in Ado-Ekiti, the state capital, the governor said intelligence report available to him revealed that “Bororo” herdsmen had surreptitiously entered the state.

    Fayose, who wore a camouflage shirt, a pair of trousers and a fez cap to match “to reflect the mood of the nation”, urged the hunters to go back home and defend the people.

    Apart from the local hunters, other residents who showed up at the forum were the revered farmers, popularly called the Agbekoya, vigilance groups and other residents from the Tiv, Idoma and Igede ethnic groups in Benue State.

    The event was highlighted by intermittent firing of gunshots, whistling and songs by the hunters.

    Fayose, who sympathised with the people of Benue State, where scores have been killed by suspected herdsmen, promised not to allow his people to be slain, as done in the Northcentral state.

    The governor claimed that the alleged plan to invade Ekiti was to make the state ungovernable for him ahead of the July 14 governorship election.

    He said the situation in Benue and Taraba states showed that “President Buhari lacks the capacity to protect Nigerians”.

    Fayose said: “I have received letters that the Bororos have entered our reserves; they want to violate our laws. I want to call the attention of the Federal Government that they have come and wanted to kill men, women and kids in Ekiti. We will not allow that to happen here in Ekiti.

    “I want you all, our hunters, to go back today to protect your people. Be vigilant, open your eyes and make sure that everybody entering the state is screened.

    “No one in the guise of grazing should enter our land after 8 p.m. For our brothers who harbour criminals, tell them Ekiti is a no-go area. If your plan is to make this state ungovernable, you are wasting your time.

    “I have called this meeting for everyone to be vigilant. I will begin to support you now to secure Ekiti. Don’t let them take you by surprise; don’t allow them to take Ekiti by storm.

    “Go to the farms and keep vigil; don’t just entertain visitors who come in the night. Screen them. We don’t want visitors in our reserves at 8 p.m.”

    He added: “This (camouflage) dressing is done to charge our hunters to secure the state. I saw pictures of the killings (in Benue) and I wonder if those were human beings. I asked the question if people could be that wicked to kill human beings that way. They will find no peace. It is no tribal killings, but that of mindless people.

    “The blood of the departed will find those people and they won’t know peace. It is the duty of the Federal Government to protect its people. We are not protected.

    “We have never had it so bad. People must come to leadership with conscience. The Federal Government should have sent the Army and not the police.

    “Governor (Samuel) Ortom should fasten his belt and protect his people. Those seeking help in Abuja would not find it because Abuja also needs help. I sympathise with you (Benue) people; nobody will kill you. You are all safe here.”

    Fayose gave out telephone hot lines through which people who notice strange movements can call for urgent attention.