A coalition of cultural groups in Nigeria under the aegis of Ethnic Nationalities Defence Organisation (ENDO) on Sunday birthed in Abuja with the resolve to protect, defend and retaliate any affront against ethnic nationalities or their territories.

The organisation said it had since realised that Boko Haram and Fulani militia were “brothers in arms against ethnic nationalities of Nigeria in a brazen land-grabbing and expansionist Fulani jihad.”

“We call on all ethnic nationalities to form their defence groups or militia or be ready to lose their ancestral lands after being killed as cowards and chickens in the hands of either the compromised Nigerian Army or Fulani militia and terrorists.

“Ours is an eye for and eye and 10 for one. Let’s see, who has the monopoly of violence. Ours is non-negotiable until the evil against all ethnic nationalities by government and Fulani herdsmen militia is halted,” ENDO stated.

The organisation, in a statement by its President, Mr David Maiyaki, Director Information/Strategy, Mr Freedom Musa and Director of Operations, Mr Nehemiah Maihaikali, warned the administration of President Muhammadu Buhari “or any governor against taking or giving any inch of ethnic nationalities land for Fulani cattle ranch or grazing.”

While suggesting that they should graze in their states of origin, ENDO advised that Minister of Agriculture, Mr Audu Ogbeh, should be ready to resettle in Katsina after his tenure as minister.

The statement read, “We have observed with sadness over the years and especially since the emergence of the Buhari administration the targeted annihilation of ethnic minorities in Nigeria. We have since realised that both Boko Haram and Fulani herdsmen militia are brothers in arms against ethnic nationalities of Nigeria in a brazen land-grabbing and expansionist Fulani jihad.

“It is evident that Boko Haram and Fulani militia have not only infiltrated the government of Nigeria, but government is directly or indirectly aiding and supporting daily evil perpetrated against ethnic nationalities.

“Government’s rebranding of terrorist and Fulani militia as hoodlums or criminal elements does not change who truly they are. There are evidence of military killer squads targeting ethnic nationalities apart from the recycling of released terrorists into the Nigerian security or Fulani militia.

“No matter how much you give the terrorists from our sovereign wealth to arm their armoury and mercenaries, they can never take our ancestral land and each of you will pay.”

Punch