The General Overseer of Christian Central Chapel International, Bishop (Dr) Emma Gospel Isong has said that Fulani Herdsmen are more dangerous than members of the Indigenous People of Biafra (IPOB).
Speaking with DAILY POST in an interview on phone in Calabar, Dr Isong regretted the activity of Fulani herdsmen, saying they wrecked more havoc than IPOB group.
“If I were to tell you my opinion, Fulani Herdsmen have wrecked more havoc than IPOB as a group, except there are other criteria to judge.
“I am not a lawyer but if there are other criteria to judge the operation of terrorist group than maiming, killing, invading communities and cities, destabilizing the civil society and of cause condoning and engaging in constant bloodshed, they should be considered as a terrorist group than IPOB.
“Well, if there are other definition to terrorism, maybe I will check a dictionary to find out, to know the meaning of terrorism but people that constantly engage in activity that would subvert the good wishes of the people and of a nation, maybe considered as a terrorist.
“However, we have to sit down as a nation and define terrorism so that we can say Mr A is a terrorist and Mr B is not”, he said.
Consequently, on the latest military action on IPOB group, code named Operation Python Dance 11, Isong said that Federal Government had power to use the Army and any legal facility to protect the territorial integrity of Nigeria.
“They have the right to make statement, and take decision to protect the sovereignty of the country, but the question is: was the procedure followed; was the rules of engaging the military followed? That is where the debate is, were the rules of law obeyed.
“This is my personal opinion, I think the federal government would be doing the right thing by using the military to intervene in any suspected cases of restiveness or secession or rebellion but I think the action of the operation Python Dance was too early, may be they should have engage more negotiation, mediation before Python began to dance.
“I think the Python Danced too early, in my village, a big masquerade comes last, you bring it last, even in a game, the Kings and Queens are always brought last.
“The good action came too early, the Army came out too early, we have other arms like the Police which one of the duties is to maintain law and order, control civil unrest and other options, the Army should have been the last option.
“Sadly, similar action was not taken on Fulani Herdsmen, this is what is giving people headache, Federal Government should not let people perceive them as being sympathetic with Fulani Herdsmen.
“One because the Federal Minister of Information has come out to say that IPOB was a terrorist group and this is why Fulani Herdsmen was not declared terrorist group.
“I think such statement from a Federal Minister of Information may give impression as if the Federal Government is sympathetic with one group against the other group. We hope they should not give such impression.”
