Traditional ruler of Iwoland, Oba Abdulrosheed Adewale Akanbi, Telu I, has penned an open letter to Chief Bola Ahmed Tinubu, calling for immediate measures to tackle the rising insecurity in the country.
Oluwo expressed deep concern over the increasing incidents of kidnappings and killings attributed to Fulani herdsmen, particularly in the South-West region and other parts of Nigeria.
In his letter, the monarch proposed the establishment of schools for Fulani children and dedicated ranches for herdsmen to manage their cattle.
He emphasised that education is a key tool in addressing the insecurity challenges faced by the country, highlighting the need for legislation compelling education for all children and strict penalties for parents refusing to comply.
Oluwo stressed the importance of understanding that not all Fulani herders are involved in criminal activities, advocating for preferential monitoring of nomadic settlements.
The letter stated, “Arresting those children from the bush to the four walls of classrooms requires the promotion of ranching. Understanding is key while education is the door to peace.
“I want to appeal to your excellency to assent a legislation that will compel education for children and enact strict punishment for parents refusing to educate their children.
“Priority can be placed on the Fulanis with preferential monitoring of nomadic settlements.
“This option will secure their future to be engineers, pilots, doctors, professors, kings, bankers, ambassadors etc. and not kidnappers. My domain is the highest host of the Fulanis in Osun State. Before the escalation of the kidnapping menace, I visited the Fulanis in my domain mandating formal education and threatened to arrest parents of teen children rearing cattle during school hours.”
The Oluwo further said, “Our security should go digital. If not now, who else is our Messiah? Nigeria’s security should be strengthened. The boost can optionally be assured through mandatory and timely provision of electronic national identity cards for everyone on Nigerian soil such that the security forces can accost and demand identification anywhere, anytime. With a digital ID card, the security can track suspicious members of society.
“Your Excellency, I want to appeal for a quick response to enact a law in collaboration with the national assembly for quick trial and execution of culpable kidnappers. There is no justifiable excuse for injustice. Injustice is only justified when a matching penalty is meted out. The change is in action. Let two, three to four culpable kidnappers taste death, then, we will breathe the air of peace.”
“In conclusion, let me admonish Nigerians. Nigeria’s security architecture cannot be strengthened in isolation. Nigerians must volunteer to support the service chiefs and other security agencies in intelligence gatherings. Community policing should be encouraged,” the Oluwo stressed. #Oluwo