Yoruba activist, Chief Sunday Adeyemo, popularly known as Sunday Igboho has given reasons why he wants killer herdsmen out of Yoruba land.
There was palpable tension after Igboho ordered Fulani herdsmen in Igangan, Ibarapa North Local Government of Oyo State to leave the area within seven days.
At the expiration of the ultimatum on Friday, he addressed thousands of supporters in Igangan, insisting that the Fulanis must leave the town.
Speaking in a Facebook live interview with popular broadcaster Kola Olootu, Igboho narrated several havoc the killer herdsmen have wreaked.
“The reason for that was the incessant attacks on our people in the Ibarapa and Oke Ogun areas of the (Oyo) state. Our people are no longer safe in their own land. On the contrary, Yoruba people don’t engage in such atrocious things. You cannot see a Yoruba man going about killing people in Kano. In the North, they can behead a Yoruba man for slapping a Hausa/Fulani not to talk of destroying their farmlands.
“You will recall the case of ‘Oko Oloyun’ ( a popular herbal medicine practitioner) who was killed during a visit to his country house. He was killed at Igbo Ora.
“Government said they would unravel the facts behind his killing but till now, the matter has not been unravelled. That killing would clock up a year this month. Another illustrious son, Dr Fatai Aborode, returned from overseas and cultivated a farmland in Igangan. He employed about 300 people. When his farm was plundered by cattle, he lodged a complaint with the Seriki Fulani. Few days after, killer herdsmen kidnapped him, tied him and butchered him. Nothing was done and no arrest was made.
“That was the story that we heard. After that, they also killed a woman, an Alhaja, a native of Imeko who brought the ransom. Many like that had been killed, including the son to Oba Abdulazeez Adeoye of Igangan. Before getting to Seriki’s residence, you have to pass through three local security checkpoints. Seriki is so powerful, (even) more powerful than traditional rulers in the zone. They rape women coming from the farm at will and nothing is done about it. Now, we are determined to defend our people, but they say we don’t have the right to do so.
“That is it. Some people alleged that I’m doing this to gain cheap popularity, far from it. Some even said perhaps I’m trying to do it to enrich myself, but that is not also correct. The fact is that I am a rich man. I am not seeking favour from government because I’m a contented person. I don’t need money or favour from government, but I am from Ibarapa.
“Before now, during hot weather, we used to lay our mats and sleep outside the house or in the courtyards without any fear. In those days, we sometimes returned from farm around 1am without any molestation or fear of possible attacks. But things have changed. People no longer feel safe. Those in government need to know that without the citizens there would be no government,” Igboho narrated.
Meanwhile, the Commissioner of Police in Oyo State, Ngozi Onadeko, has promised that action will be taken against those behind the recent violence and ethnic tension in the State.
This is contained in a statement issued on behalf of the Commissioner by the command’s spokesperson, CSP Fadeyi Olugbenga on Saturday.
“Investigation into the arson and the breach of the peace, which occurred at Igangan will be investigated to logical conclusion and culprits shall be brought to justice,” the statement reads.
The police boss, who blamed the situation in the state on “the inciting pronouncement of Chief Sunday Adeyemo, A.K.A Sunday Igboho”, warned that security agencies will not watch while some criminal elements take laws into their hands.
The statement, however, did not confirm or deny a report that the Inspector-General of Police had ordered Adeyemo’s arrest.
Adeyemo had issued a quit notice to herders in the state and on Friday held a rally in Igangan to buttress his position.
According to the police the rally is responsible for the violence which resulted in houses and cars being burnt in the town.
“Following the fear of threats to public peace, occasioned by the inciting pronouncement of Chief Sunday Adeyemo, A.K.A Sunday Igboho, the Oyo State Police Command jointly with the Operation Burst had embarked on visibility/confidence building patrol of the areas concerned,” the police said.
“Sadly, the relative peace and calmness, being enjoyed, due to the visibility patrols of the Security Agencies were truncated by the visit of Sunday Igboho to Igangan, at about 16:30hrs [4:30 pm] on 22nd January 2021.
“The visit had culminated in a mob action by some youths in the town, who, armed with different types of weapons, embarked on arson and a breach of peace. In the process, grievous hurt was committed against one of the police officers, while discharging his statutory duties.”
While investigating the situation and trying to prevent a breakdown of law and order in the state, the police appealed for calm.
The CP called on well-meaning and peace-loving elders in the community to caution and advise restive youths to sheath their swords and shun violence in addressing the complex situation at hand.
She also urged the youths to avoid being used as pawns to ignite an ethnic war.
Warning people against taking laws into their hands, the police said that a “substantial number of suspects (of different ethnic backgrounds)” were arrested in connection with virtually all the cases of kidnapping or assassination, which had occurred in the State.
Some have been arraigned in court and are being remanded in correctional facilities, while investigations are still ongoing in some of the cases.