Bala Mohammed: Herdsmen Don’t Need Permission From Akeredolu

Bala Mohammed: Herdsmen Don’t Need Permission From Akeredolu.

The Governor of Bauchi State, Bala Mohammed stated that Nigerians do not need the permission of Governor Rotimi Akeredolu or any other governor to reside anywhere.

He said, “Land is in the hands of the state and federal governments in trust but Nigerians don’t need the permission of governors or the federal government to settle everywhere. You don’t need the permission of the governor of Bauchi or the governor of Ondo to be in the forests of Ondo if you choose to live in the forests because under Section 41 of the constitution, you are free to settle anywhere.”

Speaking on his backing of Fulani herdsmen carrying AK-47, the Bauchi State governor said “when we mention AK-47, it is a figure of speech, the issue is protection, self-help, you must protect yourself”.

“The Fulani man is so exposed, dehumanized and demonized. He is being seen as a bandit and so anywhere he goes, his commonwealth which I call his cows are being taken and rustled and sometimes they are fined beyond your imagination and then he has no option than to protect himself,” he added.

Gistlover recalled that in his bid to flush out killer herdsmen, Akeredolu had asked all Fulani herders living in Ondo forest reserves to evacuate and register with the state government.

In response to Akeredolu’s ultimatum, Bala Mohammed had said Fulani herdsmen carry firearms to protect themselves against cattle rustlers who attack, kill and take away their belongings, adding that the Ondo governor does not have the constitutional right to evict herders.

Bala Mohammed,The Bauchi governor had also slammed the South-west for refusing to take-in herdsmen.

He stated that the north has over the years accommodated westerners, laying emphasis that Fulani herdsmen have the right to live anywhere as Nigerians.