IT is increasingly becoming clear that there is no end in sight for the Fulani menace and its associated problems. And even if there would be a solution, it will not be a permanent one as the issue keeps changing form and shade.
NOT even the presence of armed military and police personnel under the code-name Operation Cowleg, is enough to deter these Fulani herdsmen whose activities continue to pose threats to both lives and properties in the Agogo area and many other places where they are residing.
IT comes as no surprise to us that the military is cautioning that such attacks on its personnel would be met with equal proportion. What this means is that the soldiers under Operation Cowleg will be given the green light to take all means necessary to protect themselves from attacks from these herdsmen.
WEEKEND Today is also not astonished by the reprisal attacks by the Agogo residents on some of these Fulani herdsmen whom they suspect of fomenting trouble in the area. A rather distasteful report of a twelve-year-old Fulani girl, who was murdered in cold blood in the early hours of Sunday at the outskirt of Gomoa Ekwamkrom, near Agona Swedru in the Central Region, was reported on the front page of the Ghanaian Times yesterday.
FOR us on this paper this is a very troubling news. If Fulanis will become targets in every part of the country then that gives cause for worry. We believe that a solution can be found to this Fulani menace.
HOWEVER, such solution should lie with meeting the leadership of the Fulanis and making it known to them that Ghana is a country governed by rule of law and that our laws would deal ruthlessly with any of them who causes trouble. The Fulani leaders should also be tasked with the responsibility of keeping their tribesmen especially oin check and in line. Failure on their part to ensure that should come with some punitive actions.
WHAT is more, we want to caution residents living in the areas with Fulanis to refrain from resorting to reprisal attacks on Fulanis. The best thing for them to do is to report such cases to the appropriate quarters for action to be taken.
BUT of course we expect that our security agencies will deal swiftly with these reports of attacks by Fulanis to ensure public confidence in them to maintain law and order.
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