Governor Ayodele Fayose is battling to douse tension created by the reported killing of a herdsman in Oke Ako-Irele, Ekiti State.
He confirmed the report of the killing of the herdsman in one of his tweets.
Pleading for understanding and peace, he tweeted: “I want peace in my state and everybody living here is from Ekiti whether you are Fulani, Tiv, Yoruba or anybody.
“Cow matter can’t cause problem between us. Oke Ako-Irele issue should not be allowed to fester. Cooperate with us and whoever kills would be fished out.”
The governor confirmed holding an emergency meeting with all stakeholders to prevent a reprisal.
“To prevent re-occurence, I met with representatives of Fulani herdsmen under the aegis of Miyetti Allah Cattle Breeders Association of Nigeria, farmers, local hunters, security agencies and the Tiv community in the state,’’ he said in another tweet.
“On Monday night, I was told about the killing of one Fulani man in Oke Ako. They claimed it was a Tiv man that killed the Fulani man.
“I want the killer arrested and prosecuted. I won’t accept killing of anyone here in Ekiti. Be you Yoruba, Fulani, Tiv or Igbo, I must protect your life,’’ he tweeted.
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The victim, Mr. Babuga Dengi, was reported killed on Monday in Oke Ako in Ikole Local Government Area of the state.
Amid concerns about a reprisal attack, the Ekiti State governor, Ayodele Fayose, summoned a late night meeting on Tuesday to forestall a degeneration of the situation.
He told a meeting of the Fulani and the Benue communities on Wednesday in Ado-Ekiti that no bloodshed should be entertained as the killer of the herdsman would be fished out and punished.
Fayose had recently raised the alarm of an impending invasion of his state by Fulani herdsmen, and urged local hunters to rise up to protect the people.
He has also been outspoken in condemning the killings in Benue State by the herdsmen.
