Enoch Adeboye disassociates himself from online message criticising Fulani herdsmen

REDEEMED Christian Church of God (RCCG) general overseer Pastor Enoch Adeboye has disassociated himself from recent prayer points published on social media attributed to him in which he attacked Fulani cattle herdsmen.

Over recent years, herdsmen have created widespread panic across Nigeria as their cattle destroy farms and eat crops, ruining many farmers. When communities have protested against this, the heavily-armed herdsmen have attacked them with AK47s and machetes, leaving trails of destruction and devastation.

Emboldened by the failure and refusal of the government to act against them, these herdsmen have become more brazen by the day. Exasperated with the mayhem, several states have outlawed open grazing and across Nigeria, there is now a deafening call for ranches to be made compulsory, so cattle no longer roam around the countryside and in villages, towns and cities.

Tension has been particularly high across the southwest geo-political zone after herdsmen killed diasporan farmer Dr Fatai Aborode in Ibarapa North Local Government Area of Oyo State. His death lead to Sunday Adeyemo, popularly known as Igboho issuing a seven day quit notice to the herdsmen to leave the area, after which they were forcefully evicted.

Over the weekend, a message appeared on social media, reportedly from pastor Adeboye commenting on the issue in which he called ion God to defend Christians against Fulani herdsmen. However, in a tweet published yesterday, Pastor Adeboye branded it as fake news, saying he never issued the message and did not mandate anyone to issue it on his behalf.

The so-called prayer points partly read: “The Fulani Moslems, well-organised, have encircled us with high calibre arms and ammunition pretending they are cattle-rearers, waiting for orders to overrun our land and kill our people. They have perfected their strategies.

“Now, oh Lord, arise and defend us. Contend with those that contend with us.”

Urging his followers to disregard the message Pastor Adeboye wrote: “Calvary greetings. Please ignore this prayer point titled, Prayer from Daddy G O Adeboye.

“It is not from me and I have not assigned anyone to come up with it. I am not associated with the content, nor the author of the content. Please beware of such! God bless you."