SOKAPU condemn creation of vigilante group by Miyetti Allah Kautal Hore 

The Southern Kaduna Peoples Union (SOKAPU), has condemned in strong terms the Miyetti Allah Kautal Hore, a powerful socio-cultural Fulani group forming its own vigilante group.

SOKAPU observed that Miyetti Allah Kautal Hore is not a government and cannot make laws that rival that of a government that hosts its members.

The spokesman of SOKAPU, Luka Binniyat, in a statement explained that forming its own vigilante group should alarm all Nigerians who care about the existence of the country as a corporate entity.

According to the statement, “The Secretary General of the group, Saleh Hassan, made the grim disclosure Four days ago in an interview he granted the International Centre for Investigative Reporting (ICIR). Hassan made unsavoury and disrespectful remarks on Governor Samuel Ortom of Benue State and disparaged him for forming the Benue State Community Volunteer Guards.”

The statement noted that he (Saleh Hassan) vowed that his group was floating its own vigilante group to “protect” it’s members that they have the funds for such project, stressing that he ought to have been called for questioning to find the real motive behind such an unwarranted plan and to ascertain how far his group has gone into the scheme.

SOKAPU said the Fulani, even as a large ethnic group, does not have any exclusive state in Nigeria and are not natives of Benue State or anywhere in the Middle Belt, adding that Miyetti Allah Kautal Hore is not a government and, therefore, cannot make laws that rivals that of a government that hosts its members.

“It is therefore absurd as it is preposterous for Hassan to assume that his group can stay on Benue lands and indeed in other states and form parallel security outfits with that of their host governments. Such arrogance is rare to come by,” the statement noted.

The statement said with over 200 Southern Kaduna Communities sacked and displaced by armed herdsmen and allied criminals after hundreds were killed and more wounded, the sight of an armed Fulani vigilante force on their soil would be a very provocative act that will push other tribes to form same, alleging that the group apparently cares less of the sensitivity of other tribal groups.

The forum explained that Governor Samuel Ortom is the elected Executive Governor of Benue State and by the constitution of Nigeria, he is the Chief Security Officer of Benue State, he is saddled with the most important reason why a government exists to protect the lives and property of all residents.

It said any attempt to allow the Fulani form, arm, kit and operate an armed wing so brazenly, is to also approve other ethnic groups to do the same, alleging that a civil war may spark off if Fulani and other ethnic groups obtain arms for the exclusive reason of protecting themselves as groups under various independent commands.

SOKAPU, therefore, called on President Mohammadu Buhari not to take the issue lightly, alleging that he is fond of glossing over serious matters of security concerns.

It explained that no state government must allow any tribal group form its own vigilante group, pointing out that it is a direct line to insurgency and separatism.

The statement observed that Governor Nasir el-Rufai continues to be the only vocal against the armed herdsmen and bandits ravaging his state and has refused to do the needful like his counterparts.