Nigerians don’t need permission to live in forests, says Bauchi gov

GOVERNOR Bala Mohammed of Bauchi has said he did not use the word AK-47 literally but as a “figure of speech” when he said Fulani herdsmen bear arms to protect their lives and livelihoods.

Mohammed stressed that the operative word from his statement is “self-protection.”

“When we mention AK-47, it is a figure of speech, the issue is protection, self-help, you must protect yourself,” the Bauchi State governor said today while featuring on Channels TV’s ‘Sunrise Daily’.

He added, “The Fulani man is so exposed, dehumanised and demonised. He is being seen as a bandit and so anywhere he goes, his commonwealth which I call his cows are being taken and rustled and sometimes they are fined beyond your imagination and then he has no option than to protect himself,” the governor added.

Mohammed also insisted that  Nigerians don’t need the permission of any governor to reside anywhere in the country.

According to Mohammed, citizens don’t need the permission of his Ondo State counterpart, Rotimi Akeredolu, to live in the forests in the South-West state.

He said this in reaction to the eviction order issued by Akeredolu to herders residing in the forest reserves in Ondo State, some of who are believed to be behind kidna;;msg and related crimes perpetrated in the state.

The governor had said the decision became necessary to purge the forest of  killer herdsmen accused of sundry crimes such as kidnappings, killings, rape, amongst others, adding that herders with legitimate businesses should register with the state government.

But Bala in reaction to the Akeredolu’s position said:

“Land is in the hands of the state and federal governments in trust but Nigerians don’t need the permission of governors or the federal government to settle everywhere. You don’t need the permission of the governor of Bauchi or the governor of Ondo to be in the forests of Ondo if you choose to live in the forests because under Section 41 of the constitution, you are free to settle anywhere.”