Traditional rulers in Yewa North Local Government area of
Ogun State have alleged that some men in military uniform led Fulani herdsmen
into their communities, forcing them to accept the fact that cows will continue
to graze on their farms.
The monarchs said the soldiers flogged their subjects who
tried to explain that the herders and their animals destroy farms, causing
unnecessary clashes in their communities.
The monarchs are the Oniggua of Iggua, Oba Micheal Dosumu;
the Eselu of Iselu, Oba Akintunde Akinyemi; and the Alademeso of Igan Alade,
Oba Gabriel Olalowo.
They were said to have, on January 7, forwarded a petition to the Brigade Commander, 35 Artillery Brigade, Alamala, Abeokuta, the Ogun State capital.
According to the petition, signed by their lawyer, Mr.
Olaoluwa Folalu, the kings lamented that the soldiers called them out for
community meetings, where they made it clear that herdsmen, who had earlier
left the community would now return, warning everyone not to stop them from
grazing.
At the meetings, two youths who objected tob the decision
were allegedly brutalised by the soldiers.
However, a Senator representing Ogun West, Tolu Odebiyi has
reacted to the development.
Adebiyi has demanded that a thorough
investigation be carried out without further delay.
The Senator also lamented the incessant cases of harassment,
brutalisation and maiming, traceable to herders in Yewa land.
In a statement on Saturday, the Senator said, “It is morally
wrong to allow herders to graze on people’s farms unchecked, to the point that
law-abiding citizens are rendered hapless.”
This, according to him, sends a dangerous signal, while
undermining the credibility of the government.
The Senator also called on the Army and the Ogun State
Commissioner of Police to urgently look into the matter, to stop what he
described as “the inimical, unpleasant and nasty situation reverberating around
the villages of Ateru, Moro, Ologun, Agbon, Igbota, Ogunba-Aiyetoro, Oke-Odo,
Kuse and others.”
Odebiyi complained that residents of Ogun West had gone
through a lot of trauma in the hands of the military and other security agents,
adding that it is their responsibility to protect the lives and property of the
citizenry.
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