Chief Sunday Adeyemo, also known as Sunday Igboho, is an activist for the Yoruba Nation and has called for an investigation into the activities of some herdsmen who have allegedly attacked farmers in Iwere-Ile, Oyo State, and several communities in Ogun State recently.
He also issued a seven-day ultimatum to the herdsmen attacking farmers in the southwest, ordering them to leave these communities.
Recall that Igboho just got his freedom back from the Benin Republic and went to live with his family in Germany.
In a statement released on Sunday, the agitator for the Yoruba nation urged Nigerian security forces to apprehend the herders they believe attacked farmers and Amotekun agents in Oyo and Ogun States recently before things get out of hand.
Recall there was a clash between Oodua Peoples Congress (OPC), Amotekun, Operation Burst, Soludero and a group of herdsmen on Monday in Iwerele, Iwajowa Local Government Area of Oyo State which reportedly left many dead.
A source who confirmed the clash said a group of herdsmen had invaded a farm in the community with their cattle and grazed on it, a situation which led to the demise of the owner of the farm during the argument.
It was noted that combined security operatives of Operation Burst, OPC, Amotekun and Soludero were informed to restore peace in the area but they were allegedly ambushed by herdsmen.
Reacting to the development in a statement on Sunday, Igboho said the attack by the herdsmen on security agents as well as farmers working honestly is a worrisome development which should not be ignored.
While commending President Bola Tinubu as well as the Governors of Oyo and Ogun States for their responses to the situation, Igboho requested an increased presence of security operatives in areas where clashes between farmers and herders are still happening so food production won’t be affected.
He said in the statement: “We are calling on the Police, the Department of State Security (DSS), Nigeria Security and Civil Defence Corps (NSCDC) and the Nigerian Army to address the security breaches now before the situation gets out of hand.
“We are saddened that the killings of our farmers innocently eking their living have started rearing their ugly head again. This worrisome development calls for sober reflection bearing in mind the current hardship in the country.
“The recent ambush and killing of operatives of Amotekun Security Corps, including other security agents who were trying to restore normalcy in Iwere-Ile community after the suspected Fulani herdsmen have murdered our kinsmen in Iwere-Ile must be investigated and the culprits must be made to face the music.
“While we commend Oyo State governor, Engineer ‘Seyi Makinde and his counterparts in Ogun State, Prince Dapo Abiodun for their efforts to ensure peace and healthy developments in their respective states, we are challenging the heads of security agencies to act now before the situation worsens.
“However, while we believe in the peaceful coexistence in Nigeria regardless of tribe, religion and political cleavages, we are issuing a-seven day ultimatum to Fulani herdsmen killing our people in any part of Southwest to vacate our communities now. This warning is very important. We are not going to take laws into our hands, but they must leave.
“For now, we have belief in the capability of the Federal Government under the leadership of President Bola Tinubu to ensure and guarantee the safety of lives and properties, particularly farmers in Nigeria. We must not tolerate any act that can further push up the prices of food and other edible commodities.
“We are also appealing to Oyo and Ogun State governors to as a matter of urgency deploy more security agents and architectures to all the flashpoints where there is increase in Fulani herdsmen/farmers clashes for peace to reign.
“Nigerians and our farmers in agrarian settlements need security presence now so that they can engage in small or large scale farming activities for food production. These killings must stop now for the benefit of all.”
Ada Peter
