The Southern and Middle Belt Forum has condemned attack on the Abeokuta residence of the Nobel Laurette, Prof. Wole Soyinka, by Fulani herdsmen on Tuesday.
It was also learnt that the rest ran away, leaving their cows behind.
It was learnt that Soyinka had moved to Lagos in the meantime, following the attack and one of the herders has been arrested.
A source in the area revealed that the police and some hunters in the area have taken possession of the cows.
In a statement issued by the forum on Wednesday, signed by Yinka Odumakin (South-West); Chief Guy Ikokwu (South-East); Senator Bassey Henshaw (South-South); and Dr Isuwa Dogo (Middle Belt), the group described the attack on the professor as a painful development.
The Group also urged President Muhammadu Buhari to caution Fulani herdsmen in the country, saying their criminal activities could cause division in Nigeria.
The statement read: “Hours after Nobel Laureate, Prof Wole Soyinka, warned this country that the activities of Fulani herdsmen could lead to a civil war and urged President Buhari to denounce them clearly to show he is President of Federal Republic of Nigeria, the herdsmen stormed the elder stateman’s residence in Abeokuta around 1 pm on Tuesday and caused serious scare before the professor called in the police.
“It is a painful development that herders will not even give a scant regard to a man of Soyinka stature in their madness let loose on Nigeria with no authority to call them to order.
“If there are people still living in denial about the intention of these criminals and those shielding them, there is no further evidence than this.
“We do not know what they have that they are playing this roulette but we are sure when a blind man says we have to settle this stoning ourselves, it is either he is stepping on or clutching one.
“We also want to warn them of the implications of hurting a man like Soyinka with the fragile unity of the country.
“Let President Buhari know that these criminals are working hard to make him the last President of One Nigeria.”
