From Bello Wakili (Abuja)
The Presidency has advised Ondo State Government to apply the provisions of the nation’s constitution in its fight against crime.
A statement by the Senior Special Assistant to the President on Media and Publicity, Mallam Garba Shehu, says the Presidency has been keenly monitoring events in Ondo State and the orders by the government asking herders to vacate the forests in seven days.
The Presidency therefore calls for restraint on both sides, urging the state government and the leadership of the Fulani communities to continue dialoguing to bring an end to the security challenges
According to the statement, the Presidency notes that Governor Rotimi Akeredolu, who is a Senior Advocate of Nigeria and a former President of the Nigerian Bar Association, will be the least expected to unilaterally oust thousands of herders, who have lived all their lives in the state, on account of criminals’ infiltration of the forests.
The Presidency stressed that kidnapping, banditry and rustling were crimes, but defining crime by group, language, geographical location or faith was primitive and cruel.
It further added that government of Ondo and the 35 States across the federation must draw clear lines between criminals and law-abiding citizens who must equally be saved from the infiltrators.