Women groups from the various communities of Oro kingdom in Irepodun Local Government Area of the Kwara State as well as Professionals under the aegis of Igbomina Professionals Association (IPA) have in separate actions condemned what they call ‘influx of Fulani herdsmen into their communities.
The women were at the palace of Oloro of Oro to express their anger and fear that they are scared of harbouring Fulani/Bororo herdsmen in the locality because of their violent activities, including kidnapping, attack on innocent citizens, robberies and destruction of farms.
The spokeswoman of the protesters, Madam Theresa Omipidan, revealed that the native women have resolved to leave their homes if their petition to send the invaders packing from the land is not met.
Responding, the Oloro of Oroland, Oba Rafiu Oyelaran said a meeting between his chiefs, the leaders of Fulani/ Bororo, concerned community leaders and security personnel was being held to come to a lasting solution to the complaints of the women and other citizens with a view to ensuring security and lives of people living in his domain.
He explained that the site where the expelled herdsmen from Igangan-Igboho relocated three days ago was part of Koshoni farmland, Okerimi Oro, which has been earmarked for cassava plantation in the coming planting season.
Oloro added that following the successful deliberations of the meeting, the herdsmen have volunteered to vacate the location on or before seven days.
He then urged the women and all the people of Oroland to remain calm, tolerant and go about their normal activities without fear, assuring them that the situation is under control.
The meeting was attended by the heads of all Oro communities, Chief Imam of Oroland, youth leaders and leaders of Fulani/Hausa/Bororo in the area led by Seriki Kaara market and Seriki Yaaji (vigilante), respectively.
In another development the Igbomina Professionals Association (IPA) has called on all Igbomina stakeholders to be on red alert, be extra-vigilant and more united in actions to stave off what it calls arms bearing herdsmen and land grabbers, warning that no part of their land should be ceded to the invaders.
In a release jointly signed by its National President and Public Relations Officer, Bayo Atoyebi and Kunle Akogun respectively, the group said the influx of Fulani herdsmen, recently expelled from some South West towns, into Igbomina land in Kwara State calls for serious concern.
It noted that “Going by stories surrounding the activities of these people in their areas of former abode, the Igbomina Professionals Association (IPA) hereby rejects in totality their relocation to our area and illegal occupation of the lands on which they are currently erecting their new homes.
“For the avoidance of doubt, Fulanis have lived with us for ages without much fuss until recently when the criminal variants of the herders joined the fray. We are particularly alarmed that those currently settling on Igbomina land are the same ones that were sent out of Oyo State on account of their criminal activities targeted at their hosts.
“Not only do they kill, kidnap, maim and rape members of their host communities, they also let their cattle loose to eat up and destroy their farm crops! No reasonable host, no matter how accommodating, would allow known criminals into his vicinity, going by the antecedents of the guests. Anything to the contrary would amount to deliberately sitting on a keg of gun powder”
IPA appealed to the traditional rulers in the area to avoid the temptation to collude with the invaders and resist any attempt from any quarters to cajole them into ceding any inch of Igbomina land to any suspicious guests.
According to the group “The issue at stake is not about religion! In fact, these marauders are no respecter of religion, as they often unleash their aggression on anybody perceived to be against their destructive pastoral interests regardless of the person’s religious affiliation. So, we must not allow religious sentiments to creep into this matter, as we must confront the marauders as one indivisible Igbomina people”
While appreciating the assurance by the state government that security of lives and properties of the people remains its top priority, the group admonished it to “walk the talk about securing the lives and properties of the citizenry”
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