BY ABISOYE JOHNSON
THERE was pandemonium at the weekend in Orile-Igbooro, Yewa North Local Government Area of Ogun State, when hoodlums, suspected to be herdsmen reportedly launched an attack on the community, killing no fewer than four persons.
Some houses were burnt while many people were seriously injured in the crisis, which was said to have affected some other communities in the area.
In reaction to the recent attack and previous ones cited, Yewa youths, under the auspices of Yewa North Patriotic Forum, has given killer herdsmen seven days to vacate the community.
In a statement titled, “YNPF to killer Fulani herdsmen: We can’t condone you beyond seven days”, signed by the President of the group, Sani Omobolaji, the youths alleged that villagers had been living in fear of killings which could only be traced to the killer herdsmen.
Abiodun Kazeem, an indigene of the community, told our correspondent that though the youths were aware that it was not right to take laws into their hands, they would do everything to implement the ultimatum given the herders.
“We sent a message out. They must obey it. They can’t continue intimidating us in our own community. Enough is enough. Governor Dapo Abiodun should do the needful and not treat this with kid gloves. We can’t continue suffering the loss of lives and property,” he told THE POINT.
The Olu of Ilaro and paramount ruler of Yewaland, Oba Kehinde Olugbenle, has also appealed to the Federal Government and the State Government to wade into the crisis and protect the lives and property of people in the area.
This was as a member of the Ogun State House of Assembly, Wahab Haruna Egungbohun, also spoke on the incident, saying the killings in the community were becoming unbearable.
He noted that his people could no longer sleep with their eyes closed.
He said, “On Thursday, some communities in Yewa North, that include Owode Ketu, Ijoun, Eggua, Igan-Alade, Tata were reportedly attacked by herdsmen who killed two villagers.
“On Friday night again, heavily armed men entered Orile-Igbooro village in Yewa North and no fewer than four villagers were killed, some houses burnt while many people were left with varying degrees of injury.”
“It is clear that these herdsmen are behind the attacks. Ketu Constituency II has often witnessed violence attacks stemming from disputes between herdsmen and farmers,” the lawmaker added.
THE POINT had reported that the Chairman of the South West Governors Forum and Governor of Ondo State, Rotimi Akeredolu, had appealed to the Yorubas in Ibadan, Oyo State, and all residents of the South West, to remain law abiding even in the face of provocation.
Akeredolu said while he understood the height of provocation in the light of recent happenings in Shasha, Ibadan, he, along with other South West Governors were against willful appropriation of laws into indigenes’ hands.
He spoke in a statement he personally signed on Saturday night, saying the governors noted “with deep concern, the most unfortunate and avoidable orgy of violence in Shasha, Ibadan, the Oyo State Capital.”
According to the Governor, the situation people from the South West are confronted with is most despicable and contends against the values they are known for.
He therefore appealed to Yorubas to sustain the values of not identifying with lawlessness, noting that this was not a sign of weakness but strength.
