Segun Akanni, Toronto, Canada The Oyo State Government has said it will henceforth prosecute herdsmen caught with guns, stressing that such individuals will be treated as a criminal.
A communiqué issued at the end of the state’s Inter-Religious/Ethnic Committee meeting appealed to various religious and ethnic leaders to stop preaching hate and giving inciting sermons that would derogate other religions or tribes.
The communiqué further urged religious leaders to appreciate government’s efforts and advise to it whenever the need arose.
The meeting was attended by Governor Abiola Ajimobi as well as religious, tribal, ethnic, community leaders and security agents in the state.
The main focus of the meeting was to proffer solutions to ethnic and religious conflicts in the state.
“Religious leaders should support government in implementing its good policies by preaching regularly in the holy places on issues such as clean environment, respect for elders and people in authority and other good initiatives of government,” the communiqué stated in part.
The committee explained that a sub-committee on security had been constituted to address issues relating to herdsmen and farmers’ clashes.
Meanwhile, the National President of the Yoruba Council of Youths Worldwide, Oladotun Hassan, has called on the Ooni of Ife, Oba Adeyeye Ogunwusi, to convene a meeting that will have all the traditional rulers in the South-West in attendance.
Hassan said such a meeting should discuss attacks by Fulani herdsmen and militants in the zone.
