Pascal Arogorn Ibe
Suspected herdsmen have chopped off the
hand of a farmer in Ikoyi-Ile, an agrarian
community in Orire local government area of Oyo State.
The herdsmen also raped two ladies and
destroyed farmlands, according to Secretary
of Idera Agbe Farmers Association in the
council, Chief Joseph Oyekola.
Ikoyi-Ile, an agrarian community, is near
Ogbomoso.
Recounting their ordeal in the hands of the
violent herdsmen, the farmers threatened to
resort to self-help should security agencies
fail to protect them from incessant attacks
Oyekola, who doubles as the Babalaje Agbe
in the local government, said: “We don’t know
what to do because if we take any step or
revenge, it might lead to bloodshed.
“Herdsmen cut off the hand of one of our
workers working on the farm, they destroyed
our farm products.
“Another farmer was matcheted on the head
while others were injured, and two of our
minors were also raped.”
One of the victims, Dominic Gbegbi, said he
was matcheted 14 times while trying to
pursue the herders who invaded his farm
with their cows.
Another victim, Usman Daudu, whose farm
products were also allegedly destroyed by the
herders, said 20 hectares of his farmland
planted with maize, yam and tomatoes, were
destroyed by the herdsmen.
He said: “They have not stopped the attack
on our farm, we have pleaded with them
several times yet they didn’t yield to our plea.
They are ‘Bororo’ Fulani because the Fulani
that have been living with us never had any
issue with us.”
Onikoyi of Ikoyi-Ile, Oba Abdul-Yekeen
Oladipupo, said that he has been trying his
best to facilitate peaceful coexistence
between the farmers and herders in the area.
“We have tried to resolve the issue many
times because it is difficult to separate
farmers and herders. We have been living
together for a while.
“I have taken a lot of steps in the matter so
as to find a lasting solution to it but it seems
my efforts are not sufficient to achieve the
goal. So, we need government intervention in
the matter.
“I’ve had series of meetings with all the
Baales (family heads) around me to find
solution to the issue. In fact, I even had
meetings with the Assistant Inspector
General of Police (Zone 11) in Osogbo
together with the Commissioner of Police,
and the police assured of coming to our aid.”
The monarch called on Oyo Governor Seyi
Makinde, House of Assembly and security
agencies to come to the aid of his people
before the issue degenerates, stating he
does not want bloodshed again in the town.
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