History was made on Friday, January 22, 2021 when Sunday Adeyemo Igboho and his activists stormed Igangan in Ibarapa North Local Government Area of Oyo State after the expiration of seven days ultimatum issued by Igboho last Friday, January 15, 2021 to chase away killer herders.
Igboho gave the ultimatum over incessant kidnappings and killings in Ibarapa area of the state by the criminals suspected to be Fulani herdsmen.
He alleged that the killings and kidnappings in the area are being perpetrated by some Fulani who are known to the Fulani community leadership.
The seven-day ‘quit notice’ to members of the Fulani community elapsed on Friday. Igboho and his supporters visited the community to eject the head of the Fulani community, the Seriki Fulani, Salihu Abdukadir, and members of the community in Igangan.
This is despite the warning by Governor Seyi Makinde, in a broadcast, that he would not “make any law-abiding resident of Oyo State feel unsafe in their homes, farms, or business places. We are aware of some people circulating flyers and giving people ultimatums to leave their land. This is totally unacceptable and will not be condoned.”
“The Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria 1999 (as amended), which I swore to defend and protect, guarantees freedom of movement in Section 41(1), such that citizens are free to reside in any part of the country without fear. We are determined to preserve that right in Oyo state.”
Defying the governor Mr Adeyemo, however, defied Mr Makinde’s warning by storming Igangan community with fully armed youths.
Hundreds of residents of the area, apparently concerned about the security situation, trooped out to welcome them.
Addressing the crowd, Igboho in a video accused the state governor of threatening him with soldiers.
“When our people were being kidnapped and killed, there was no soldier deployed to secure them and now the governor is threatening us because we took a bold step to defend our people”.
Sources in the community told our reporters that the violent protesters upon getting to Igangan went to the house of the Seriki Fulani, Mr Abdukadir, and set it ablaze.
Properties with millions of naira including vehicles were also destroyed during the raid that occurred on Friday evening.
Meanwhile, Mr Adeyemo could not be reached as of the time of this report as his telephone number indicated that he was out of reach.
Mr Abdulkadir as at the time of this report told SaharaReporters that he left the community before Mr Adeyemo’s arrival but his properties were destroyed.
“As we speak, we are in the bush. Our cars, numbering about 11, have been burnt. Some of my children sustained injuries and we are looking for a way to get them to hospital. My children have left their houses for the bush. We need the government to help us. Police, Operation Burst and other security agencies were there when they set my house ablaze”, he was quoted.
Meanwhile, the chairman of the Miyetti Allah Cattle Breeders Association in Ibarapa, Muhammed Bello, had earlier told reporters that it was wrong for Mr Adeyemo to associate all Fulani herdsmen with criminality.
“We all want a peaceful environment. One of us, Alhaji Anji was kidnapped twice. The kidnappers asked for N3 million but he was able to raise half of it with the promise that if released, he would work hard to get their balance. After he was freed, the kidnappers were calling him with different lines, he went to report at police station thinking he had regained freedom.
“But to everybody surprise, Anji was kidnapped again and was beaten mercilessly by the same set of people until he paid the balance. So, this is to tell you that even Fulanis are also affected”, he said then.
Now that political space in Nigeria is open and gaining momentum towards the Anambra State governorship election in 2021, Osun State in 2022 and the general elections in 2023, anyone who intends to be a participant in these elections need to start with a bold step now in order to finish well in victory.
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