The Eselu of Iselu land, Oba Akintunde Akinyemi has reminded Governor Dapo Abiodun that displaced Ogun State indigenes, who returned from Benin Republic after the recent herders’ crisis are still awaiting the shelter he promised them.
At the peak of the farmers/herders clashes in Yewa axis of Ogun State, many displaced residents were said to have fled to neighbouring Benin Republic to avoid being killed by suspected herdsmen.
It was reported that many people were shot or butchered to death by the fiendish herdsmen, who also set houses, motorcycles and other properties on fire.
At the time, the government of Ogun State was not pleased with media reports that Ogun residents relocated to Benin Republic.
Even with video evidences, the Chairman of the peace committee on farmers/herders clashes, Hon. Kayode Oladele said no Yewa indigene relocated to the French-speaking country.
According to Oladele, those who fled to the country were the Ohoris and the Eguns, who were originally from the Republic of Benin, adding that nothing had happened in Yewa that could warrant relocation across the border.
As the denial continued, those who fled their communities began to return to Asa, Ibeku, Agbon Ojodu, Orile Igbooro and other villages in Yewa North and Imeko-Afon Local Government Areas.
It was learnt that it was made possible when normalcy was restored by the joint security task force put in place by Governor Dapo Abiodun in the troubled areas.
However, it was gathered that many of the returnees have no houses to return to, even as some of them reportedly died in the foreign land.
With their houses and belongings torched, the majority of those who returned to their villages are at the mercy of individuals that took them in, as they look on to the government to give them a place to retire to after the labour of each day.
Speaking in an exclusive interview with our correspondent, the Eselu, Oba Akinyemi said government would not have denied that Ogun residents relocated to Benin Republic if it had done its findings initially.
Oba Akinyemi stated that the Ogun State government later found out that indigenes of Yewa truly relocated across the borderline.
“Initially, when government said it wasn’t true that people moved to Benin Republic, maybe it was because they didn’t find out. But, later when they found out, they discovered that Ogun indigenes were there.
“But now, we have convinced them, everybody is back home. However, they are waiting for the promise of the governor to give them shelter and the rest of it. They’re back home and the governor knows they back. But the truth remains that they are still looking at the things the government promised them and that’s what we are agitating for,” Oba Akinyemi said.
Speaking about the security situation of the area, the Eselu disclosed that, “Presently the governor has taken a measure to beef up security. Soldiers, police, all of them are there. At least, that has tamed the killers to some extent. For now, we are not hearing of killings anymore in that axis, because of the presence of the army and that of the police.”
The monarch appealed to the government not to redeploy the security agents from the area.
“We just need to implore the government to continue to leave them (the task force) there. They should not withdraw them, so that they can stabilize the security challenges we have in Yewa area.
“With the measures put in place by the joint task force, we are still looking at the security of this area to be a bit stable. The Governor should continue to keep them there so that if there is any distress call, they will respond immediately,” he said.
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