Farmers and residents of the in Ikoyi-Ile area in Orire local government area of Oyo State has resolved to fight back suspected herders causing chaos in their community.
This was coming after the alleged herdsmen and farmers clashed in the community, an incident that led to the raping of two women, one farmer’s hand severed while other residents sustained severe injuries.
The development was confirmed to newsmen in a statement by the Secretary of Idera Agbe Farmers Association in the council, Chief Joseph Oyekola.
Narrating the disturbing events caused by the suspected herdsmen, Oyekola, who doubles as the Babalaje Agbe in the local government told newsmen that: “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 macheted on the head while others were injured, and two of our minors were also raped.”
Reporting his ordeal with the herdsmen, another farmer who gave his name as Usman Daudu, told authorities that his farm products were also destroyed by the herders. According to him, 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.”
On his part, while reacting to the incident, the monarch of the area and the Onikoyi of Ikoyi-Ile, Oba Abdul-Yekeen Oladipupo, told reporters that he has been trying his best to establish peaceful coexistence between the farmers and herders in the area. He said farmers/herders clashes are not limited to 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,” said Oladipupo.
He added, “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.”Oladipupo added.
He urged the Oyo state governor, Seyi Makinde, House of Assembly and security agencies to look into addressing the occurrences people his people resolve to self-help, noting that he does not want bloodshed again in the town.
In another news, one Emmanuel Egbu has been apprehended by the men of the Nigeria Police Force in Oyo State for allegedly eating bread and faeces in his shop, Naija News reports.
source https://www.naijanews.com/2020/08/24/two-women-raped-farmers-hand-chopped-off-by-herdsmen-in-oyo-photo/?utm_source=rss&utm_medium=rss&utm_campaign=two-women-raped-farmers-hand-chopped-off-by-herdsmen-in-oyo-photo
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