No ethnic group has monopoly of violence —CAN

THE president of the Christian Association of Nigeria (CAN), Reverend Samson Ayokunle, has called for mutual respect as a critical component of ensuring peaceful co-existence in the country.

Rev Ayokunle made the call on Friday, in Makurdi, during a courtesy visit to the Benue State governor, Samuel Ortom.

He warned against continuous attacks by Fulani herdsmen across the country, saying a situation where “the offender is treated like a sacred cow is so provocative and unacceptable.”

The CAN president said: “There is a proposition in psychology that says that instigation to aggression depends on the degree of frustration. If you continue to frustrate people, they can become very aggressive.

“Therefore, we don’t want any group of professional people, whether herdsmen or any other men, to provoke others to anger that may end up in a big war in this nation. We are saying this because violence is not a monopoly of any ethnic group. If the government continues to look at the herdsmen and allow them to be rampaging everywhere, killing others, the way the herdsmen got their ammunition, the rest of us will also get it.

“The issue on ground is not about hatred for any group of people, we need to learn to live together in peace in this country. But if we must do the pilgrimage together, there must be justice, fairness and there must be mutual respect for one another.

“If you respect me, you will not take your cattle to go and mess up my farm because you know my life depends on the farm and if I respect you, I will not steal your cow so there must be respect for one another in order to ensure peaceful co-existence.

“And it is also the duty of the government when any group of people in this nation is crossing borders, breaking laws to quickly come in and bring offenders to book. Before we get to a state of complete disorder, the government should rise up to its responsibility, not only to arrest offenders but conclusively prosecute them so that others will sit right.”

Governor Ortom, in his remarks while receiving Rev. Ayokunle, disclosed that apart from the Agatu community, 12 local government areas of the state are still under siege by Fulani herdsmen.

Ortom, who defended the newly passed anti-open grazing bill in the state, said the bill was subjected to public hearing and was supported by all citizens of the state.

“Coming at a time that the Benue State House of Assembly passed the anti-open grazing bill speaks volume and goes to confirm that we will receive support from all the Christian communities in Nigeria.

“What you see in that bill is a decision not just of the governor, or the speaker or members of the Benue State House of Assembly, but the decision of Benue State because the bill was subjected to public hearing and the people were unanimous.

“Benue State has 23 local governments but 12 have been under siege by the Fulani herdsmen. Benue State was completely under siege for two years. It is not a crime that God gave us a green land and as we are known as the food basket of the nation, we are not going to farm in the air or on the sea, or any other place, it is on land.

“There is no way we can compete with grazing. It is impossible for grazing to go along with farming. And for several years, even before I became governor, we have pleaded with the herdsmen but they continued killing.

“The lasting solution to the constant clashes between farmers and herdsmen is ranching. That is what the bill passed at the National Assembly is saying.

“They should rare their cattle in a civilised way and it must be regulated. In Benue State, you must abide by the law otherwise flouting it will land you in jail.

“This year will be the last year when our people will be harassed and chased out of their communities,” the governor said.