FEAR OF BANDITRY: 8 communities in Ogbomoso metropolis issue 48 hrs ultimatum to herdsmen

FEAR OF BANDITRY: 8 communities in Ogbomoso metropolis issue 48 hrs ultimatum to herdsmen

Jeremiah OYELEKE

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The rising cases of banditry with attendant kidnapping for ransom and brutal killings in Nigeria especially the gruesome occurrences this year in Ogbomoso communities viz: the Oloka killings by Fulani kidnappers and abduction of teachers and school children in Ahoro-Esinele/Yawota both cases in Oriire local government area, have stampeded eight communities in Ogbomoso South local government area to issue a 48 hour ultimatum to a roving group of Fulani herdsmen who recently settled in the area.

The communities located at Samaday area, Ibapon are Oluwamodupe, Ayedire, Mercy land, Estate, Irewolede, Ònà Igbala, Ifesowapo and Grace land.

The ultimatum was sequel to a meeting earlier Monday attended by the Baale Ibapon HRH Alhaji Ashifat Akanji; Ogbomoso Parapo (home headquarters) led by its chairman Prince Aderemi Olude; Seriki Fulani Ibapon, Alhaji Idowu; leaders of the affected eight communities and the strange herdsmen.

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Issuing the ultimatum, the Onibapon said, “We are declaring today, Monday, August 10, 2026, that they must leave within 48 hours in the name of myself, the communities’ leaders, the Seriki Fulani in Ibapon (Idowu), and Ogbomoso Parapo. We don’t know them, we have Fulani who have been living with us here, whose head is Idowu whom we issued ID cards. But these ones we are unfamiliar with them and recently we held a security meeting with the Commissioner of Police who sternly warned us to be wary of strangers in our midst. We don’t cause trouble and we abide by the law but we won’t wait till evil befall us before we take action.”

Corroborating Onibapon, the chairman of the eight communities, Mr. Alagbe Oyebamiji Akanji, disclosed the strange herders had constituted a menace in the eight communities and neighbouring areas. “Their livestock destroy our farms, damage our septic tanks (soak away), defaecate on the roads which can cause accident, cause infestation offlies which can transmit diseases and menace us with stench, messing up the whole area. We had to report to law enforcement agents who drove them away but they returned, so, we notified the Ogbomoso Parapo, hence this step we jointly took.”

Prince Aderemi Olude, chairman of Egbe Omo Ogbomoso Parapo (home headquarters), said, “When we heard of the matter that the herders had constituted themselves into nuisance and constituting security threat, we intervened.

“Initially, the communities claimed the herdsmen named Baale Ibapon as permitting them to occupy the place but when we contacted the royal father he denied it, then, the herders said it was Seriki Fulani in the area, one Idowu, and that one too denied it.

“So, we convened a broad-based meeting this morning and after the meeting, we gave them 48 hours to vacate the place, after which we would take step according to the law. That is what security agencies have been preaching, to speak out when we see something strange that could pose security challenge.”

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