The Kwara State Commissioner of Police, Mr Victor Olaiya, has called on the Bororos/Fulani to share information on criminal activities in their communities with security agencies around the areas of their operation in a bid to ensure that crime and criminality are brought down to a bearable level in the state.
The CP made the call at a high-level security summit with stakeholders in Ilorin, the state capital on Saturday, where issues regarding peace and security in the state were discussed.
The meeting comprised all communities, villages and district heads including Miyetti-Allah, Gan-Allah and Fulani Association leaders, where extensive discussions were held on measures to be adopted to mitigate the prevalent cases of kidnapping and farmers/herders clashes in the state.
According to a press statement by the state Police Public Relations Officer, SP Okasanmi Ajayi, the meeting was an interactive session where all the stakeholders were permitted to express their uncensored views regarding security issues under review and the way forward.
The statement reads, “On the high spate of kidnapping, it was generally agreed that Bororo/Fulanis must give information about the criminal activities of their kin in the communities and also report the activities of saboteurs among the indigenes.
“This according to the meeting would stop criminal elements from other states from making our state a destination of choice for criminals.
Concerning cases of Farmers/Herders clashes.
“It was also agreed by the majority in the meeting that roving Herders are those that commit most of the mischief recorded on farmlands while the farmers accused resident Fulanis of the crimes which sometimes result in crises of confidence among the herders and their host farmers.
“Other security issues of concern to the state, cult-related activities were equally discussed and measures to forestall the crimes were also adopted. These will be implemented in earnest.
“Consequently, the CP advised all the village and district heads present including Miyetti-Allah/Gan-Allah leaders to go home and preach the gospel of peaceful co-existence to their respective subjects.
“He reiterated his resolve as the Commissioner of Police in the state to deal legally but ruthlessly with criminals of whatever nomenclature in the state, hinting that the command would not fold its arm and watch some nonentities in the society truncate the delicate peace and tranquillity Kwara State is known for”, the statement concluded.