Oodua Peoples Congress (OPC) in Ondo State on Sunday said it would no longer tolerate attacks on the people of the state by Fulani herdsmen.
The group directed its members to form vigilance groups in their respective zones in order to prevent the invasion of any part of the state and attacks by the herders.
The state chapter of OPC took the decision at a meeting held in Oba-Ile, Akure North Local Government Area of the state.
Members from all the 18 local government areas of the state attended the meeting where they were asked to be ready to defend the Yoruba land against the invasion of herdsmen.
The congress said it was unfortunate that Fulani herdsmen has constituted themselves into a terror organization in different parts of the country.
It described the incessant attacks by them in different parts of the state as worrisome and asked Governor, Oluwarotimi Akeredolu to find legal ways of protecting farmers.
It resolved to reunite members the Gani Adams and Fredrick Faseun factions of the group in the state with a view to ending the factional crisis rocking it.
Victor Olayemi Egbeyemi, State Chairman, urged the Adams and Faseun’s factions to come together in the interest of the people of the state.
Egbeyemi said the security issues affecting the state should be enough for the two factions to sheathe their swords, adding that both Adams and Faseun were from the state.
He directed members of the group to meet with community leaders, chiefs and security agencies in order to prevent breakdown of law and order.
The OPC boss said traditional rulers should work with members of the group in order to identify lawful Fulani herdsmen from the criminal ones who had constituted themselves into a security threat.
“We should not wait until they start to kill our people before we plan to defend them. We want to reorganize ourselves to defend the interest of Yoruba people.
“Both Aare Adams and Dr. Faseun’s factions must work together in the interest of the people. OPC members should get prepared whether there is war or not.
“The Fulani kidnapped people in Ore, they attacked the wife of our member in Akure North and people are fleeing their farms because of the activities of the herdsmen. Chief Olu Falae’s farm was burnt. We should rise up to defend our territories,” he said.
Egbeyemi, however, advised members not to take laws into their hands but work with law enforcement agencies in order to secure the territories of the state from Fulani invaders.
