The Oyo State House of Assembly has decried alleged incessant attacks on farmers in Oriire Local Government area of Ogbomoso by suspected Fulani cattle herders and has ordered full investigation into the recent incidents in the area which have reportedly led to death of farmers and destruction of farmlands.
This was part of the resolutions of the house on Tuesday while deliberating on a Matter of urgent Public Importance on the need to protect lives and properties of farmers in Oriire Local Government from incessant herders’ attacks jointly brought to the plenary by Hon Sanjo Adedoyin (Ogbomoso South) and Hon Jacob Bamigboye (Oriire)
The House while urging the Oyo State Government to put urgent measures in place for the effective take off of Amotekun corps as well as implementation of Open Rearing and Grazing Regulations Law, 2019 also appealed to the Commissioner of Police to mandate his officers to handle cases between farmers and herders with fairness and equity to ensure justice.
The Speaker, Oyo State House of Assembly while reading the resolutions of the house further directed the Committee on Agriculture and Natural Resources to liaise with the Executive arm of Government on modalities for the implementation of the Open Rearing and Grazing Regulations Law,2019 while the house Committee on Security and Strategy was mandated to update the legislature on the Amotekun corps.
Hon Adedoyin had earlier alleged cutting off of a farmer’s hand at Boluwaduro last year, attack on a farmer at Alaropo in July this year, raping of a farmer’s daughter and destruction of farmlands by Suspected Fulani herders adding that the incessant attacks had impoverished the farmers.
In his own submission, Hon Jacob Bamigboye lamented the way Fulani herders are using their animals to graze on the host farmlands stressing that villages like Tewure,Araromi,Igbo Eleru,Animashaun,Onikoko, Budo-Afa,Kango, Oko-Oba among others have tales of woes to narrate from the hands of Fulani herders.
Other lawmakers including Hon Olawumi Oladeji (Ogbomoso North), Hon Asimiyu Alarape ( Minority Leader) , Hon Adeola Bamidele and Hon Akeem Adedibu (Iwajowa) blamed the rising farmer/herders clashes across the state on the activities of Fulani cattle rearers and they urged security agents to rise up to the challenge of containing the violence and prosecuting those culpable to forestall total breakdown of law and order.