Presidency steps into Ondo/Fulani herdsmen feud

…Seeks Southwest Govs, Myetti Allah parley

By Ayo Fadimu

As the ultimatum handed over to the herders in Ondo State expired yesterday (Sunday), Presidency has waded into the issue to forestall another ugly incident like the one in Igangan, Oyo State.

According to sources close to our correspondent, the Presidency  has stepped in to avoid possible clash between herdsmen and officials of the Ondo State Government, who are to enforce the vacation order by Governor Oluwarotimi Akeredolu to herdsmen in the forest reserves.

It would be recalled that Akeredolu last Monday issued a seven- day ultimatum to herdsmen in the forests reserves to leave the area as part of measures to curb kidnappings and banditry, noting that herdsmen, who wished to carry on with cattle-rearing business in the state, should register with appropriate authorities or get forced out.

The ultimatum ends on Sunday and the state government has gotten support from major stakeholders that the herdsmen must be made to leave the reserves.

However, President Buhari has directed the leadership of Miyetti Allah who are said to be in Akure, Ondo State Capital to hold urgent meeting with Southwest Governors on Monday.

In the meantime,  Ondo State Chairman of MACBAN, Alhaji Bello Garba has confirmed that leaders of the association are already in the state for the peace meeting which is aimed at finding lasting solution to the incessant killings, kidnapping, and the endless crises between herdsmen and farmers in the state and other South West States

Garba said, “The National Chairman of Miyetti Allah is in town now and I cannot talk about what we want to discuss at the meeting but I can assure you that we are going to address the press tomorrow after the meeting.”

Similarly, Ondo Commissioner for Information and Orientation, Donald Ojogo, said meetings were not unusual.

“Well, meetings of that nature, if true, are not unusual. We are all in it together. No ethnic group or a particular trade is the target of the government order. So it will be a welcome development if the meeting is holding. There is nothing too unusual about it,” he said.

In the meantime, Oyo State government, the police, and traditional rulers met with the  residents of Igangan in Ibarapa area of Oyo State, in order to douse tension over the security situation in the area.

Oyo State delegation was led by the Special Adviser to the governor on security matters, Fatai Owoseni, the Inspector General of Police, Mohammed Adamu, was represented by the Commissioner of Police Ngozi Onadeko, the Alaafin of Oyo was represented by the Vice Chairman of the Oyo State Council of Obas, the Onigbon of Orile-Igbon.

Also present at the meeting which lasted for hours were Seriki Fulani of other communities in Ibarapa area.

At the meeting, the residents presented the representatives of the Inspector General of Police with glaring evidence of cases of kidnappings, killings and other crimes which were allegedly linked to the expelled Seriki Fulani of Igangan.

An acclaimed Yoruba interests fighter, Mr. Sunday Adeyemo (popularly called Sunday Igboho) had taken it upon himself to ensure the expulsion of the leader of the Fulani community in Igangan, Saliu.

Abdulkadir owing to allegations that he was complicit in many cases of killings and kidnappings of indigenes.

Adeyemo had stormed Igangan after the expiration of his seven day ultimatum to effect the explulsion of the Seriki Fulani who was said to have taken to his heels before the arrival of his challenger.

Governor Seyi Makinde had in a broadcast, warned Adeyemo and others of the consequences of asking the Seriki to leave the community.

However, at the meeting on Sunday, other Seriki Fulani of communities such as Lanlate, Igboora, all Ibarapa pleaded with the community to allow their men to continue their stay saying they were not part of the criminality for which the Seriki in Igangan was being alleged.

During the meeting, the delegation from the police boss was presented with evidence in forms of photographs which confirmed atrocities allegedly linked to the expelled Seriki.

One of the evidences presented to the IG team was that of payment of ransome of about N2million which was paid to the Seriki by the Oba of Igangan after the son of his brother was kidnapped.

Our correspondent learnt that it was after the payment of the ransome that the Seriki negotiated for the release of the kidnap victim and released to the Oba.

Also presented to the delegation were evidences of land grabbing which in many cases had also led to killings or injuries of the local residents.

The delegation promised to get back to the community after reporting back to the police boss.