The high rate of insecurity in Nigeria keeps getting worse with each passing day. Bandits, kidnappers, armed herders, all seem to compete with each other on who can wreak the most havoc daily.
Many have questioned the government’s competence and willingness to tackle this security conundrum, with some going as far as suggesting a grand conspiracy involving the political, military, and police hierarchies at play.
The vacuum left by the government in failing to secure the property and lives of citizens has made some take the law into their hands and opt for vigilantism.
A case in point is the recent expulsion of Fulani herdsmen from the Ibarapa Local government area of Oyo state by a self-acclaimed Yoruba freedom fighter, Sunday Igboho, who after successfully driving out the herdsmen from the Oyo community did the same in the Yewa community in Ogun state. He didn’t act alone, he acted with the legitimacy granted him by residents of those communities, who had called severally on the government to no avail, before opting for Sunday Igboho.
Retired Col. Olayinka Olayanju, the commandant of the Oyo state Security Network Agency, Amotekun had on Monday declared Ibarapa safe and free from kidnappers after taking a tour around the LGA as 200 Security operatives were earlier deployed to secure the area.
The residents have however disclaimed the commandant’s statement, claiming they had been alerted that several armed herdsmen in military uniform were coming to Ibarapa North LGA for what is suspected to be a reprisal attack, hence the people still live in fear.
A resident of Ibarapa, Mutiu Rahaman, said the statement made by the government was false, hence “We are still living in fear in Ibarapa North”
“My brother, it is a lie that peace has returned and people have been going to their farms. Though there are some areas where our people could farm even during the troubled time, they still cannot farm like before. Let the governor himself come to our farms without security, if truly he believes those lies”.
The people of Ayete have also said the presence of the Wakili Fulani who has been accused of being complicit in the kidnappings and killings ravaging the community further endangers them, thereby calling on Sunday Igboho to evict him as well.
Sadly, at least 19 people have been killed and others injured in two separate attacks during the weekend by unknown gunmen in 2 villages in Kaduna.
It was confirmed by the commissioner for internal security and home affairs in the state, that “armed bandits” had killed 14 people at Kutemeshi village in Birnin Gwari and 5 others in the Kajuru Local Government area on the same day leaving several injured.
“On a sad note, the Kaduna State Government has received reports from security agencies of the killing of 19 citizens in Birnin Gwari and Kajuru local government areas of Kaduna central senatorial district,”
On Sunday, February 8, 2021, armed herdsmen allegedly attacked the Oha village in Imeko-Afon Local Government of Ogun State, killing a farmer named Dele Olowoniyi.
This is coming after the Governor of the State, Dapo Abiodun had deployed 200 security operatives to the Yewa and Imeko communities, while assuring the residents of an end to the unrest in their community.
According to eyewitnesses, Olowoniyi aged 50, who was sleeping on his farm in the Oha village was slaughtered around 1:30 am during the attacks by the unknown gunmen, and his corpse has been taken to Federal Medical center Idi-Aba, Abeokuta for Autopsy.
“The Fulani herdsmen invaded the community on three motorbikes. They were nine in number – three on each bike. When they entered the village, they started shooting into the air. The deceased farmer, who was asleep outside his hut, was captured and slaughtered,”
The Governor of Kano State, Abdullahi Gaduje had called on the president to declare a restriction of the herders from North to South to curb and reduce the frequent clashes between the farmers and herders in the southwest region.
In line with that, the secretary of the Miyetti Allah Cattle Breeders Association of Nigeria, MACBAN, in Kano state Zubairu Ibrahim, has announced that herders from the Southwest and South East of the country have shown interest in relocating to the Kano RUGA Settlement.
He said herders from 5 different states have relocated to Kano as they have been accused of causing mayhem across the country.
“The governor has invited anyone willing to stay in the RUGA settlement to come. If they come and they are good people, nothing will stop us from receiving them.
All they need to do is to follow the rules and regulations of the government. They should go for grazing in the afternoon and not at night. Nothing can stop them from coming if they are interested.”
However, 80 Fulani passengers who were being conveyed in a truck were intercepted at the Iwo Road, Ibadan, by Amotekun operatives and Operation Burst for questioning on Sunday Evening.
Oyo State PPRO, CSP Olugbenga Fadeyi said the passengers with 25 cows and 13 motorcycles were coming from Kano State. He said they have been interrogated and nothing incriminating was discovered on them.