Some killer herdsmen have stated that their inability to access quality education was responsible for their decision to take up arms and go into crimes.

Speaking with Daily Trust, one of them, who seemed to be the leader of the group, said President Muhammadu Buhari can only tackle insecurity by seeking international intervention.

While lamenting neglect by the government, the bandit said they want quality education and employment opportunities in government parastatals.

He said, “This issue is beyond any governor; even the president himself, if he knows the true situation in the forest and the condition people find themselves, there’s no way he would have left this responsibility to the governors or any individual.

“The problem cannot be surmounted by a governor; even the president would have to seek help from other countries to tackle the problem. Just look around, these are people bearing arms and they have nothing to do. Many have lost their loved ones. The parents of some of them have been killed.”

“What we want is that our pastoralists should be employed just like the way their own children are employed. Our children should be enrolled in schools so that we can also become knowledgeable. In this country, there is oil, there are gold and many other natural resources but we don’t know how any of those things are being managed,” he added.

He accused members of the defunct Special Anti-Robbery Squad and officers of the Nigerian Army have taken their cattle from them, leaving them poorer.

“What more cattle do we have now? Soldiers and SARS personnel have carted away all the cattle,” the bandit leader said.

Asked how they survive in the forest, he said the bandits feed on the proceeds from selling the few cows they have left.

He also alleged that they get money from some governors and lawmakers who pay off the bandits after they must have raided such person’s domain.

“The way we survive is, some of us with two or three cows, sell one and bring the money here which we share and buy some food items.

“Sometimes, some governors or lawmakers, if our people are disturbing their domain, they would send N100, 000 or N200, 000. That’s how it’s been,” he said.

Respected Yoruba monarch, the Ooni of Ife, Oba Adeyeye Ogunwusi, has said he is still in wonder why the African continent go after developed countries to import medical ingredients.

Naija News understands that Ooni stated this while unveiling a series of traditional medicines, made from local herbs, that is capable of fighting against infectious diseases including the dreaded COVID-19 disease.

Speaking at the product launch which was held at the Ile Oodua Palace of Ile-Ife on Thursday, February 25, the monarch said it is a proven fact, which is equally established by the World Health Organisation, that Africa has the best herbs which can be used for vaccine production.

This online news platform understands that the launching of the herbs was done through a platform called Herbal Remedies with the Ooni as the Chairman, in partnership with ace traditionalist, Dr Akintunde Ayeni, C.E.O/Chairman of YEMKEM International LTD.

“We are not doing this in isolation and I am happy to inform you that the National Assembly is currently working on a bill submitted by the Federal Executive Council,” Ooni noted while addressing newsmen.

He added that “the bill has passed through several legislative procedures and shall be passed into law very soon.“

According to Ooni, a foundation has been launched for indigenous research-based initiatives in traditional medicines.

He continued: “I am very honoured to be in partnership with the oldest, YEMKEM International, which has been in the industry for the past 40 years.

“He owns the largest (herbal medicine) production plant in Nigeria; We have been on this for over one year during which we have worked with various stakeholders in the health sector, including the National Agency for Food Drug Administration and Control (NAFDAC).

“To the glory of God, NAFDAC gave us all the approvals last September but I insisted that the products be packaged properly. To the glory of God, these products have been tested, especially on thousands of COVID-19 patients, including some in positions of authority who are currently free from the pandemic,’’ the Oba said.

The Yoruba monarch revealed that one among many others of their focus is to employ 100,000 youths within the next fifteen months.

In his goodwill message, the Senior Special Assistant to the President on Job Creation, Mr Afolabi Imoukhuede, commended the Ooni over the innovation, adding that many youths would be engaged productively.

He said: “If you study the value chain associated with this innovation right from the cultivation of herbs, production, packaging and distribution, it is obvious that many jobs will be created and countless doors of opportunities opened for our youths,”

On his part, the Chairman of YEMKEM, Dr Akintunde Ayeni, described the development as his greatest achievement in his over 40 years of practice. Ayeni explained that such landmark achievement was more spectacular because it is coming from Ile-Ife, the “source of mankind’’.

He said: “It was not easy and I wish to state that the Ooni, who conceived the idea, gave us all the support, including huge sums of money.

“He has been supportive morally, financially and spiritually and I appealed to other monarchs to emulate these good virtues,”

Speaking also at the event on behalf of the Commissioner, Osun State Ministry of Health, Mr. Gbenga Adepoju, pledged the government’s support for the newly launched products, noting that the country had what it would take to solve her problems.

Adepoju, who is the Director of Public Health in the Ministry, said Ooni’s effort in the development of a vaccine against COVID-19 was a huge addition to the government’s effort.

“As we keep fighting against this common enemy, I want to implore us to keep observing the COVID-19 protocols, including wearing of nose masks, observing social distancing and maintaining personal hygiene.”

In their separate speeches, NAFDAC Director-General, who was represented by the agency’s Director of Public Affairs, Mr. Jimoh Abubakar, commended the fatherly role of Ooni in ensuring that the citizenry enjoys qualitative health. Also, the Standards Organisation of Nigeria (SON), represented by Mr Gideon Amosun, declared the organisation’s support for the innovation, applauded the frontline African monarch over the medical breakthrough. (NAN) The herbal products unveiled included Verozil, an immune booster; Bitter Leaf Capsule and produced to attack diabetes and high blood pressure.

Meanwhile, the Nigeria Centre for Disease Control (NCDC) has reported 634 new cases of the novel coronavirus (COVID-19) in Nigeria.

Naija News reports that the new cases were reported in a post on the disease control agency’s Twitter handle on Thursday night, February 25, 2021.

The leader of the proscribed Indigenous People of Biafra (IPOB), Mazi Nnamdi Kanu, has vowed to hunted Governor Nyesom Wike of Rivers State for atrocities allegedly perpetrated against Oyigbo people.

Naija News reports that the pro-Biafra activist made the threat in a post on his Twitter page on Thursday.

Members of IPOB had allegedly engaged security operatives in Oyigbo River State, a situation that led to the killing of people.

Nnamdi Kanu stated that Wike will be hunted by domestic and international legions.

He wrote: “Anyone close to Wike should tell him that till the last days of his miserable life, he will be HUNTED down for all the atrocities he spearheaded against my people at #Obigbo.

“He will be hunted by legions, domestically & internationally. And it will be scorched-earth & fiery.”

Anyone close to @GovWike should tell him that till the last days of his miserable life, he will be HUNTED down for all the atrocities he spearheaded against my people at #Obigbo. He will be hunted by legions, domestically & internationally. And it will be scorched-earth & fiery. pic.twitter.com/qqZDB6zZuo

— Mazi Nnamdi Kanu (@MaziNnamdiKanu) February 25, 2021

Meanwhile, Mazi Kanu has revealed why Fulani herdsmen have refused to graze their cattle in the north.

The IPOB leader claimed that herdsmen are refusing to graze in the north and relocating to the south because they are terrorists.

According to the pro-Biafra activist, the terrorists are only disguising as Fulani herdsmen.

“If it’s true that these herdsmen are merely looking for the green pastures of the South to graze, why then did they abandon the expansive green pastures of the North that lie fallow in the lower Sahel?

“Don’t believe the hype: They’re not herders; they’re terrorists in disguise,” Nnamdi Kanu said.