At least six people have been confirmed dead and hundreds displaced following a series of devastating attacks on the Obada Oko community in Abeokuta, Ogun State.

The violence, allegedly perpetrated by suspected Fulani herdsmen, occurred between December 18 and December 23, 2023, leaving a trail of destruction including burnt homes, businesses, and a church.

​The crisis reportedly began on December 18 in the Dideolu Estate area of Obada Oko, when herdsmen were accused of allowing their cattle to graze on and destroy farmland owned by residents.

Tensions escalated when a respected community youth leader, Mr. John Taiwo, alongside the local Baale and other residents, confronted the herders. Witnesses allege that the group was threatened and told to vacate their land, with the attackers reportedly declaring intentions to turn the country into an Islamic nation.

​The violence peaked on December 22, 2023, in the deadliest assault of the series. Although local youths initially attempted to resist the incursion, they were eventually overpowered. Witnesses reported that the attackers retreated only to return shouting religious slogans, including “Allahu Akbar,” before setting fire to properties. The attack resulted in six fatalities and left approximately 24 people injured.

​The spate of violence has sparked outrage and protests within the Abeokuta metropolis. Demonstrators took to the streets to decry the destruction of livelihoods and the physical assaults on residents.

One protester pleaded for government intervention, stating, “We are tired. Please stop Fulani herdsmen from destroying our farms, killing our people, and raping our women.”

​Bolaji Aromire, a resident affected by the crisis, expressed deep frustration over the perceived inaction of security operatives. “We were warned. The world was warned. Yet nothing was done, especially by the appropriate security agency,” Aromire told our correspondent.

​The violence in Obada Oko highlights a complex mix of issues, including fierce competition for land and rising religious intolerance in the region. Fear of further attacks has forced numerous families to flee their homes, creating a growing humanitarian concern.

​Residents are calling for urgent Federal and State intervention, demanding increased security deployment to vulnerable border areas and an independent investigation into the attacks to prevent further bloodshed.