Image caption: Photo used for illustration
EXPOSED! Traditional rulers, politicians, behind killer herdsmen – resident Fulanis allege, according to Ogbomoso Parapo
Femi OGUNLANA
The proactive step being taken by Egbe Omo Ogbomoso Parapo Agbaaye against incessant killings of farmers and other residents in Ogbomoso zone in recent times by suspected Fulani herdsmen has begun to yield fruits as certain categories of people have been named as culpable.
According to chairman of Ogbomoso Parapo Home Zone, Prince Aderemi Olude, during a chat with ogbomosoinsightonline.com, they had held series of meetings “as promised” with the heads (Seriki/Jooro) of Fulani clans in the zone and were informed that some privileged people are at the root of the problem.
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“We met with the Jooros and Serikis of Fulanis across Ogbomoso zone on the escalating incidents of farm destruction and killings of our farmers by their people with a view to stopping the menace but we were told pointblank that the crimes are often perpetrated by foreign Fulani herdsmen, that is, those not resident here previously. They lamented they could not contain the killer herdsmen too saying they are intransigent and often very violent,” Olude, a prince of Onpetu Ijeru, said.
“They thereafter alleged traditional rulers in the zone of being the architect that they are the ones harbouring them for personal benefits. They also informed us that politicians and other wealthy people fuel the crisis by employing killer herders and instructing them to ensure returns on their cattle investments at all cost.”
Rising from this meeting, Prince Olude informed the socio-organization resolved to go round the five local governments in Ogbomoso zone to meet with traditional rulers on the allegation against them, saying “any traditional ruler that fails to show up will be deemed as truly culpable.”
He disclosed they had met with members of the traditional council in Ogo-Oluwa local government area with the meeting held at Ajaawa, headquarters of Ogo-Oluwa local government, at the palace of Alajaawa, Oba Thompson Adeyeye, on Thursday, July 4.
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The chairman revealed that the meeting was well attended however saying the traditional rulers failed to deny the allegation against them and so charged them to meet with political office holders too especially those that held offices between 1999 and now but we said no.
“The traditional rulers did not deny the allegation, in fact many of them said they could not express their mind freely as they would have wished for fear of being reported but it was certain the allegation by the Jooros was not far from the truth. The Obas and Baales urged us to meet with politicians too especially those who held offices from 1999 till the present time but we said we saw no reason for that knowing they would not turn up or cooperate.”
He assured, “However, we are resolved to curtail the Fulani menace in the zone. We will pray and pray to ensure we deal with the situation, we will handle it spiritually and physically but we will make sure we do not not take laws into our hands. We invoked curses and will continue to invoke curses against whoever harbour the foreign killer herdsmen, enough is enough, it is treachery against the land that some people because of their own selfish interest and benefits would continue to accommodate criminals.
“Their insensitive activities have disrupted farming activities in the zone, people are leaving and abandoning farms in droves causing high cost of food items we are witnessing. We will do everything to tackle the menace but we will not take laws into our hand.”
He informed the four other local government areas in Ogbomoso zone i.e. Oriire, Surulere, Ogbomoso South and Ogbomoso North, would be visited for similar meetings to ensure permanent solution is found to the menace.
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ogbomosoinsightonline.com spoke with Oba Adeyeye, the Alajaawa, on phone, and he confirmed the meeting was held in his palace, well attended by traditional council members in the council area. “Our local government is the first port of call and we discussed the damages being caused by the herdsmen. The Ogbomoso Parapo people relayed the allegation by resident Fulani herdsmen that it was Obas and Baales harbouring foreign herdsmen, that is what the parley addressed. It was a successful meeting,” Oba Adeyeye, who recently celebrated his fourth ascension anniversary said.
Recall killing of nothing less than three persons by Fulani herdsmen have been recorded this year alone including a pastor at Gege area along Adebayo Alao-Akala Highway (Iseyin road), Ogbomoso, the 32 year-old graduate farmer at Elemuye in Surulere local government area and another young man, a tailor at Akowonjo area, Ogbomoso North local government. Many farmers have also reported wanton destruction of their farms by grazing cattle herded by these aggressive herders with complaints that the culprits often go without facing the full wrath of the law.
