Fresh crisis appears to be brewing in the Ibarapaland area
of Oyo State, following the return of Fulani herdsmen to the area and the
alleged destruction of farms in the area.
Fulani herdsmen had, in January, migrated out of Igangan and
other communities in Ibarapa, Oyo State, following the eviction notice given to
Seriki Fulani of Igangan, Salihu Abdukadir, by Yoruba activist, Sunday Adeyemo,
aka Igboho.
Farmers in Igangan, however, disclosed on Friday
that the herdsmen had not only started returning to the area but that they had
allegedly resumed destruction of farms and threatened to attack farmers who
resisted them.
The Chairman of Real Farmers Association of Nigeria, Igangan
branch, Mr. Abiodun Adegoke, in an interview with our correspondent, said some
of the cases were reported to the police in Ayete and Igangan.
Adegoke accused some herdsmen of grazing their cattle on a
cassava farm at Olukosi village on February 14, destroying a large part of the
farm. He added that the herders invaded the farm around 7.30pm but that the
farmers rallied other residents that pursued the herdsmen, who escaped with
their animals.
The farmers’ chairman said the anti-open grazing law in the
state meant nothing to the herdsmen, adding that they stilled grazed at night
in spite of the law against it.
According to him, one of the cows was caught and taken to
the police station at Ayete, the headquarters of Ibarapa North Local Government
Area.
He said, “Two weeks ago, another incident happened at
Asunnara village. Some herdsmen grazed their animals on the farm of Semiu
Ariwoola. They invaded the farm and started uprooting cassava there to feed
their animals. Our people mobilised and ran after the herders and their
animals.
“They escaped but six rams among the livestock were caught
and were taken to the Igangan Police Station. These people have shown that they
cannot change. One would have expected that they would desist from farm
destruction, plundering and attacking farmers, but they have returned to their
wicked ways.
“We were attending a meeting organised by the Justice,
Development and Peace Commission on Wednesday and I received a call that some
herdsmen were grazing on someone’s farm. The farmer challenged them and they
started beating him. Two of them beat him mercilessly with their rods.”
Adegoke said it took the intervention of some other farmers
who arrived to stop the herdsmen.
“As they were talking, one of the herdsmen, Yahaya, brought
out a cutlass and threatened to attack one of our people, but when he saw that
they were many, he stopped,” the farmers’ chairman added.
In an interview with PUNCH, the Convener of Igangan Development
Advocates, Oladiran Oladokun, disclosed that the herdsmen had started
returning and destroying farms.
The Police Public Relations Officer in Oyo State, Mr
Olugbenga Fadeyi, also told our correspondent on the telephone that the police
would have started investigation into the cases since the complainants said
they had reported the cases.
He said, “The police would have begun investigation since
they said the incidents were reported. We will continue to do what will promote
unity and peace in every area.”
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