Senate President Reveals Those Responsible For Killings In Sasha Market, Others

Senate President Ahmad Lawan has accused South-West Governors of being behind the killings that occurred in Sasha market in Ibadan, Oyo State and other violence against northerners in the region.

Recall that crisis had on February 18 erupted in Shaha following an argument that ensued between a pregnant Yoruba woman and a businessman said to be Hausa.

Following the development, many were killed while many houses were burnt, which rendered thousands of Hausa residents homeless.

Speaking in an interview with BBC Hausa Service, Ahmad Lawan said divisive utterances by some Southwest governors propelled the crisis.

He said the violecne was as a result of the call for the eviction of Fulani herdsmen out of Southwestern states.

“Leadership failures in the region cause what happened in Oyo State and other things that kept happening in the Southwestern states,” Lawan said.

“Some utterances by some governors also went a long way in inciting the citizens to take up arms against other ethnic groups settling in their states.

“The governors’ utterances emboldened the criminals to unleash violence against the northerners.”

Naija News recalls that in his bid to flush out killer herdsmen, Akeredolu had asked all Fulani herders residing in Ondo forest reserves to vacate and register with the state government.

Reacting to Akeredolu’s ultimatum, Bala Mohammed had said Fulani herdsmen carry firearms to protect themselves against cattle rustlers who attack, kill and take away their possessions, adding that the Ondo governor lacked the constitutional right to evict herders.

The Bauchi governor had also slammed the South-west for refusing to accommodate herdsmen.

He noted that the north has over the years accommodated westerners, stressing that Fulani herdsmen have the right to live anywhere as Nigerians.

Sunday Adeyemo, better known as Sunday Igboho, also asked herdsmen in Igangan in Ibarapa North Local Government Area of Oyo state to leave within seven days following reports of the killing of some residents.

Days after, violence erupted in the area during which the houses and property of the Seriki Fulani, Alhaji Saliu Abdulkadir, were burnt.