Fayose threatens reprisal over herdsmen’s attack in Ekiti

Governor Ayodele Fayose of Ekiti yesterday threatened a repraisal attack if the herdsmen that killed two people and wounded many others in Oke-Ako, town in Ikole Local Government Area of the State. According to him; “I am sounding a note of warning to the Fulani herdsmen and those who can talk to them should also do so now. If they continue with these wanton attacks, killing of the people and destruction of farmlands in Ekiti, I cannot guarantee that there won’t be reprisal attacks. “I can also not guarantee the level that the reprisal attacks can get to because as a governor, it is my responsibility to defend and protect my people.” He urged the people of Oke-Ako to remain calm as security agents try to fish out those who killed two persons in the community on Friday. This is contained in a statement by the governor’s Special Assistant on Public Communication, Mr Lere Olayinka. The statement condemned the attack by suspected herdsmen. “Fayose described the attack which claimed two lives as the height of callousness on the part of the cattle rearers. “He warned the perpetrators to desist from such heinous crime as he would not guarantee whether there could be reprisal attacks if repeated on the town or elsewhere.” It added that the agents of the devil must be fished out and punished accordingly. “I will not fold my hands while armed herdsmen invade communities in Ekiti, killing people and destroying farmlands at will, like they did in other states. “I have directed the police and other security agencies in the state to fish out the killer herdsmen”, the statement said. The governor commiserated with the people of Oke-Ako, especially the family of the deceased, vowing to do everything humanly possible to forestall a re-occurrence as well as bring the culprits to book. It said the herdsmen were becoming major threat to the unity of Nigeria and its people adding the he was in constant touch with the security agencies. “The people of Oke-Ako should therefore remain calm while the security agents do their job, “The security agents must, however, be mindful of the fact that the people’s patience has a limit and they must act promptly and decisively”, it said.