Stephen Ukandu, Umuahia
Nobel laureate, Professor Wole Soyinka, has said the dreaded Boko Haram terrorists, ISWAP, and Fulani herdsmen are after the same agenda although they operate under different guises.
Soyinka who made the submission when he paid condolence/solidarity visit to Ondo State Governor, Arakunrin Rotimi Akeredolu, over last Sunday’s massacre of about 38 worshipers at Owo Catholic Church, said that the dastardly attack was targeted at the Governor for showing leadership in terms of internal liberation.
According to the Nobel Laureate, all three groups share common mission which is to inflict pains and sorrows on the locals with intension to occupy their ancestral land.
According to him: “At a time we thought it was Boko Haram, we didn’t know that Fulani herdsmen were capitalising on the fundamentalist insurgency and brutality.
“And that is why we see a nexus of operation between ISWAP, Boko Haram and Fulani herdsmen.
“They work singularly, individually and they work collectively. I Know Ondo State has always been at the forefront of awareness.
“We are dealing with people who are obsessed with domination; it is in their blood, it is in their creed, their psyche that they need to dominate.”
Soyinka vowed that no matter how the terror groups try or who their sponsors might be, they would never succeed in their evil mission in the South-West.
“Here, on our own soil, having had the experience of century of disdain, contempt about us as black people. Again, some characters come along calling themselves whatever, ISWAP, Boko Haram.
“So, all those groups including those who are just opportunists – the herdsmen, they are making a mistake. I want the Governor to realize they are making a mistake.
“I have been on this issue for quite some time. This invasion has been on, and these herdsmen are all over the forests.”
Responding, Governor Akeredolu thanked Soyinka for the visit and solidarity, vowing that the South-West will never succumb to terrorists.
Gov. Akeredolu described the senseless and unprovoked terror attack as an unforgettable wound and slap on the face of the state.
“This is like a dagger drawn to our heart, and it is an assault on our psyche. The psyche of those of us in the South-West and Western Region.
“I think they think they can create some fears in us, but they made a mistake because this will make us more fierce in our condemnation of their actions. And we are not hiding it.”
The State Government has, however, cancelled this year’s June 12 celebration earlier slated for Sunday 12th June 2022, as mark of respect to victims of the attack.
