Inter-tribal Crisis: Oodua Group Warns Hausa/Fulani Nations Against Fomenting Violence on Host Communities

A warning signal has been passed on northerners most especially Hausas residing outside their region to respect human’s life and dignity in relating with the people in their host communities.

The group also cautioned members of the Hausa tribe on the need for them to always prioritising the feelings, traditions, cultures, virtues and values of the people hosting them outside their communities.

The warning came on the heels of the violence recently erupted between the indigenes of Ife and the Hausas who are residing in the ancient town.

According to the press release signed and made available to journalists by the chairman, Coalition Of Oodua Self-determination Group (COSEG), Comrade Ifedayo Ogunlana said for Nigeria to successfully promote unity in diversity, thus Nigerians must build a sustainable capacity to enhance the spirit of togetherness.

The release condemned in its entirety the incessant attacks on Yorubas and Igbos by the Hausas and Fulanis, citing the purported killing of Yorubas and Igbos by the Fulani herdsmen in Kaduna and Enugu as a deliberate signal to disintegrate the unity and stability of Nigerian people.

The statement reads in parts: “the recent invasion of the cradle of Yoruba race is an affront and insult to the people of Yoruba race. There is no history to the effect that any ethnic group aside the Hausa nation has been involved in violent acrimony with their host communities.

“COSEG while assessing the situation warn the Hausa/Fulani nations not to unnecessarily heat up the polity but rather leave in harmony with those who have been magnanimous to shelter them.”

The concerned group however called on the leadership of the Hausas in the Southwestern Nigeria to prevail on their brothers and sisters in breaching the existing harmonious relationship between them and their hosts.

“We are using this medium to admonish our brothers and sisters who are from the northern Nigeria to caution themselves by respecting our culture, tradition and values as Yoruba people just we do in their region.

“It is through this that we can collectively engender peace and continuously live in harmony.

“We want to place it on record that we patriotic group in the south west won’t fold our arms and allow this unnecessary  vexatious act to continue unattended because it has been viewed as an act of impunity and dangerous attempt to heat up the polity in the homestead of the Yorubas.

“As we are going to tell the world that the city of Ife cannot be conquered by the Hausas/Fulanis, we equally warned against reprisal attack that may trigger vendetta just as we called on security agencies to maintain neutrality, evenness and equity in discharging their constitutional responsibilities of guaranteeing the security of lives and property of the citizenry”, the group stated.