More trouble in Oyo, as foreign Fulanis troop in with more sophisticated arms.

 

Chairman of the Western Nigeria Security Network, Amotekun in Oyo State, Gen. Kunle Togun, retd, yesterday raised the alarm that a large number of fully armed Fulani herders, who are non-Nigerians, have started trooping into the state through Saki East, Saki West and Atisbo Local Government Areas.

The development, however, elicited angry reactions from the Yoruba Council of Elders, YCE; pan-Yoruba socio-political organization, Afenifere; the Agbekoya Farmers’ Association, who called on security agencies to address the situation.

The alarm came on a day the state governor, Seyi Makinde, said some foreigners, without proper documentation, are contributing to the rising wave of insecurity in the state and warned traditional rulers to stop allocating lands to foreigners without documentation.

Togun raised the alarm in a message he sent to the Yoruba World Assembly, YWA, organizers of the first Yoruba traditional security summit held at the old House of Chiefs, Parliament Buildings, Secretariat in Ibadan.

The Amotekun chairman, who was invited as chief guest of honour at the event, had forwarded the message to the Chairman, Governing Council and Secretary-General of YWA, Chief Taye Ayorinde and Dr. Victor Taiwo respectively, to explain the reason for his inability to attend the programme.

Gunshots in Saki area — Togun

Vanguard, however, gathered that gunshots rent the air in the three council areas where the suspected foreign criminals were trying to gain entry into the country.

Togun, in the terse message, said: “I am still in Saki area. The Fulani herdsmen are trooping in, in large numbers to Saki East and Saki West as well as Atisbo Local Government areas of the expansive Opara Forest reserve.

“Our boys are highly inexperienced. I am employing the services of seasoned native hunters who are assisting our boys.

“A lot of success has been achieved so far. Evidence abounds that they are not Nigerians. Amulets, charms, poisoned arrows and daggers already seized from them are about six bags as of now.”

He further disclosed that “some community chiefs and traditional rulers are among those inviting them.”

Togun noted that a meeting had been scheduled for January 14, 2021, but had to be rescheduled for Tuesday.

“Two traditional chiefs who are among those inviting herdsmen into Oyo State are to report to Amotekun for investigations,” he said.

At the security summit, prominent leaders in the zone vowed not to use guns but would employ ‘stronger traditional means’ to combat the invaders.

Speaking on the worsening security situation in the state, Special Adviser to Governor Seyi Makinde on Security, Mr. Fatai Owoseni, said: “We have a lot on our hands. As a Nigerian, you can live anywhere but not as a criminal.

“If their cows are like their children, they should also not forget that the crops planted by farmers on their farms too are just like their own children. If I don’t disturb your cows, why should you destroy my crops?”

He lamented that there are many saboteurs among the Yoruba, especially traditional rulers, who trade the safety of the lives of their subjects for cattle.

His words: “Out of 10 cows that a Fulani herder is grazing, eight of them will belong to our people. Some of them are big men. When these criminals are arrested by police, these people will be begging for their release so that the cattle that herders graze for them will not suffer.