Following last Saturday’s beheading of a 70-year-old farmer and injuring of his son in their farm at Iseyin, Oyo State, the Agbekoya Farmers Association, AFA, hasvowed to deal with herdsmen in their own way if the federal and state governments failed to curb herdsmen’s activities.
They also issued an ultimatum to all herdsmen in their land to leave immediately or face their wrath.
This came as the leader of Fulani in the South West, Alhaji Mohammed Bambado, and his counterpart at Oke-Ogun, Alhaji Bello, claimed that they had lost four of their men.
Recall that a 70-year old farmer, identified as Mustapha, alias Baba Jeje, was beheaded on his farm by herdsmen, while his son, who was with him on the farm, was also said to have been injured by the herdsmen who destroyed crops in the farm.
The farmer had since been buried according to Islamic injunctions.
Speaking with Vanguard, President-General of Agbekoyas Worldwide, Kamoru Okiki Aremu, said the deceased was a gentle man who was very popular at Iseyin.
Aremu warned that unless the Federal Government and Governor Abiola Ajimobi arrest and prosecute the culprits, the Agbekoyas would declare war on herdsmen all over Oyo State.
Aremu said: “They killed a farmer at Iseyin three days ago. They slaughtered him and then beheaded him. What was his offence? He complained that their cattle ate his dried cassava tubers. It was his child who narrowly escaped that raised alarm. We cannot take this any longer.
“As a result of the killing, some of my members called me to get permission if they could go in search of the assailants. We can’t wait for the Police again. Police can’t guarantee us safety again. We have severally complained to the Police, the state government and the Federal Government and we have found out they cannot handle the issue.”
Asked if it would be easy to get the alleged killer, he replied saying he knew that majority of the herdsmen were stubborn.
“If they don’t release the killer, we won’t take this lightly. We can no longer fold our arms while they have field day mowing down our people. We are ready for whatever happens. Enough is enough. We thought we could live together in peace, but these ones don’t understand the language of peace.”
Similarly, the leader of Agbekoya in Oyo State, Alhaji Shehu said: “We have been given the mandate not to sit by and watch these lawless herdsmen. Our people are already in the bush looking for them.
“We know that the real culprit is not easy to find. What we are saying is that they should leave our lands and anyone who fails to heed the warning should have himself to blame.
“You need to see the inhuman manner they killed the farmer. His children had to be picking his body parts that had been decapitated. Just some days ago, they killed a SARS commander at Saki. We have had enough of these killings and we are tired of it. They have inflicted so much pain on us in this Oke Ogun area and we have been driven to the wall. We can’t tolerate this any longer,” he added.
When Vanguard called the Sarkin Fulani in Oke Ogun area, Alhaji Bello, he said four herdsmen and many cows had been killed.
Bello said: “As you are talking to me now, they have killed four Fulani men and many cows. They have gone to bring three corpses of our men they killed. The Policemen are already here.”
On ways of resolving the crisis, he said: “The only way is for the government to summon a meeting of stakeholders where we will iron things out.”
Also, Chairman, Association of Fulani Chiefs, South-West Nigeria, Alhaji Mohammed Bambado, said: “With what I gathered, they said the Police are investigating the matter. At present, our people have gone into the bush because with what I gathered, they have killed four Fulani but it has not been confirmed yet. They are not sure whether it was the Fulani that committed that crime because they said it was a family issue. There is no grazing route along that area that would make a Fulani man to go through that area. The Police are there carrying out their investigation.
