Chairman, National Human Rights Commission, Dr. Chidi Odinkalu, has yet again, criticised the comments and reaction of Yoruba elders over the abduction of Olu Falae, and the subsequent destruction of his farm by suspected Fulani herdsmen.

Following the incidence(s), Yoruba elders had called for the ban of Fulani herdsmen from Yorubaland and threatened secession from Nigeria, should the menace of the herdsmen remain unchecked.

However, Odinkalu chastised the Yoruba elders for demonizing an entire race and inciting hatred.

The human rights activist would also state that Inspector General of Police, Solomon Arase, never stated that Falae was kidnapped by Fulani herdsmen.

He said: “No one should underestimate the aggravation that can arise from the abduction of any person, especially, of a revered senior citizen like Chief Falae, who has paid his dues. People are right to be concerned.

“We should also retain perspective. I should say I followed closely the efforts by the Inspector General of Police, Solomon Arase, to secure Chief Falae’s release; he went personally to Akure to finalise the negotiations and secure the release of Chief Falae.

“At no point in the course of that or thereafter did the IGP say the culprits were Fulani herdsmen. The abduction is obviously a vile crime. So, the perpetrators should be dealt with according to the law.

“To somehow suggest that the answer to this is collective vigilante action against an assumed race of perpetrators does considerable discredit to everyone.”

“We choose to fill our gaps of awareness with prejudice and senior, otherwise informed, citizens choose to make themselves the purveyors of hate and prejudice in circumstances, where they should lead the search for difficult answers.

“Leadership comes with responsibility. Incitement to hatred is not protected speech and is a crime. Wherever you’ve had crimes of extermination, they have often begun from hate speech, depicting a targeted population as some kind of vermin beyond the reach of humanity and liable to be exterminated.”

Kolapo Olapoju