Pan-Yoruba sociocultural organisation, Afenifere has rejected calls by the Miyetti Allah Cattle Breeders Association of Nigeria (MACBAN) for its members to be included in the Oyo State Security Network aka Amotekun.
The Chairman of Miyetti Allah in Oyo State, Ibrahim Jiji made the call yesterday while arguing that language barrier was a major cause of clashes between Amotekun operatives and Fulani herdsmen in recent days.
Miyetti Allah also called for the inclusion of other ethnic groups in the security network, saying it would help eliminate the language barrier.
Reacting to the clash between some of his men and Amotekun operatives in Ayete area of Ibarapa North LGA of the state, Jiji described it as unfortunate.
He lamented the killing of some of the men.
Also, he called for the release of the 46 members of the association arrested over the incident, saying they were not criminals.
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He reiterated that the arrested men were members of the Vigilante Group of Nigeria, who are the people fighting banditry, robbery and kidnapping in the area.
Jiji advised the people to stop labelling any criminal as Fulani, noting that criminality, robbery and banditry should not have any ethnic colouration.”
Afenifere reacts
However, Afenifere rejected the calls for the inclusion of Fulani people in the Amotekun Corps, saying it amounted to “asking for too much”.
“Why don’t they ask for them to come and mount traditional stools in Yorubaland? These people are climbing over the leaves of the tree in their unbridled ambition,” National Publicity Secretary of the group, Yinka Odumakin said.
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