Tinubu: Leave Fulani herdsmen out of Fasoranti daughter’s murder

From Ayodele Samuel, Lagos

The National Leader of the All Progressives Congress, APC, has called for caution over the tagging of Fulani herdsmen as those behind the killing of the daughter of Pa Reuben Fasoranti, Mrs Funke Olakunrin, stressing that such statement could worsen security situation in the country.

Tinubu speaking when he paid a condolence visit to the Afenifere National Leader in Akure, the Ondo State capital on Sunday over the murder of Mrs Olakunrin by those suspected to be herdsmen, said that Fulanis should not be held responsible for the incident.

Tinubu said the origin of kidnapping can be traced in the country, warning politicians against using the death of Mrs Olakunrin to divide the country.

“I’m extremely concerned about security, I don’t want a stigma, I can go through history of kidnapping in Nigeria and we know how and where it all started, there are a lot of copycats.

“How many years ago have we faced the insecurity in the country? There are cases of kidnapping, is Evans too, who was arrested and made disclosures, also a herdsman?

“We must not use this incident to divide ourselves but we must use it as a cure to the security problem. Additional police, additional patrol, and additional security reinforcement along Ore road and various flash points across the country is necessary and I have discussed this among the various authorities. The governor (Akeredolu) is eminently aware and being proactive about this.

“The security challenges are numerous across this country and to fight it we are going through that, more police are being recruited and it takes time to train and deploy them to various areas, nobody prepares more than necessary for this.

“But if you look at Zamfara, Osun, Ondo, Ekiti and all areas, then we need to fight poverty, unemployment and the causes that might lead people to crime.“

“Equally we must create opportunity to convert this tragedy to prosperity.”

While describing the death of Mrs Olakunrin as a sad one, he disclosed that him and the deceased chatted few days to her death.

“I am a nationalist and the security concerns and challenges right now must be faced squarely throughout Nigeria. The incident that affected one member of our family, Mrs Olakunri, is saddening and unacceptable but nobody can return her alive, she has answered the call of her creator.

“We must not use this incident to divide ourselves but we must use it as a cure to the security problem by providing additional police and patrol.”