Banditry: Osun monarchs read riot act to herders, vow to deal with cattle rustlers
- Fulani herders in Osun state have been warned to report bad eggs among them or be ready to vacate the state
- The warning was given by the monarchs in the Odo-Otin North local council development area of the state
- The monarchs said that they would resist all attempts by the herders to terrorise the people of the area
PAY ATTENTION: Join Legit.ng Telegram channel! Never miss important updates!
The traditional rulers in Odo-Otin North local council development area of Osun state have told the herders who work and live in the area to monitor and report any strange visitors or cattle rustlers to the appropriate quarters.
Legit.ng reports that the warning was given by the Oloyan of Oyan land, Oba Kilani Adekeye, who led other prominent traditional rulers in the LCDA during the third peace and security meeting held recently in his palace.
In a statement issued after the meeting and seen by Legit.ng, the traditional rulers frowned at the illegal activities of the herders and the reported influx of the cattle rustlers to the area through Erin-Ile and Asi boundary.
Source: UGC
Elizabeth Oluwatoyin Adebisi, the council-manager Odo-Otin North LCDA, who convened the emergency peace and security meeting, had earlier explained that she had received several petitions from the people of the LCDA stating some illegal activities of the herders in the area.
She added that the illegal act ranges from the possession and display of arms and ammunition, attempted murder, kidnapping among others.
Adebisi also stated that a prominent member of the community called to notify her that some strange cattle rustlers are camping in the Aara area new Igbotele, Oyan.
She, therefore, ordered the security agencies and the community security team to do everything within the ambit of the law to displace any illegal occupant of any bush who pose threat to the peace and security of the area.
The council-manager said that a confidential source from the community alleged that the police were not helping the matter, saying that the prime suspect of the last kidnapping in the area in December 2020, popularly known as Idrees Fulani is now moving freely on the street.
In a swift reaction, the DCO, Odo-Otin local government, Olawoye Waliyu said that the case of Idree is in court, adding the court can grant him bail if it is satisfied with his application.
Speaking on the incident, the Alasaba of Asaba land, Oba Ezekiel Oyewusi, could not hide his feelings while explaining his encounter with the herders and their cow on his farm.
He said:
"The herder with a barrel (gun) and a radio set in his hand was dancing on the potato ridges of my farm, rightly in my presence. I challenged them and they destroyed the farm overnight.”
The Alasi of Asi land, Oba Isaac Oyewale, in his reaction, also said that the traditional Fulanis who have been living within the LCDA for years, should rather live with people of the agrarian communities in peace and expose the kidnappers and other bad eggs among them or leave the community for peace to reign.
One of the petitioners, Adewale John of Majowuoye community, Oyan, alleged that the Fulanis living in the community are keeping the flock of cows and dunghill within the community thereby causing flies infestation and offensive odour that is affecting the people of the area.
Also, a high-powered delegation headed by the head of the water and environmental services department of the LCDA, Isiaq Ajayi, which was set up during the second peace meeting to investigate the allegation gave an account of its report.
It confirmed that the allegation was true as it suggested the relocation of the cattle and the hill of dung from where people are living to prevent health hazards.
The Onijabe of Ijabe land, Oba Felix Olaniyan Oyelade, Onilaodo of Ilaodo, Oba Benjamin Abiona, the high chiefs, head of administrative, finance and social departments, Olayemi Olajide, Adeyemo Adesujo and John Adewuyi and all the representatives of the security agencies were present at the meeting.
PAY ATTENTION: Install our latest app for Android, read the best news on Nigeria’s #1 news app
Meanwhile, Legit.ng had previously reported that Samuel Ortom, Benue state governor, said it is injustice for the federal government to clampdown on the Eastern Security Network (ESN) while it ignores bandits carrying AK-47.
It was reported that he said that Nigeria's security challenges would have been solved if the federal government treats armed Fulani herdsmen the same way it treats the ESN.
......
Wale Akinola is a passionate journalist and researcher. He works as a senior political/current affairs editor at Legit.ng. He holds both B.A and Master’s degree in Communications and Language Arts from the University of Ibadan. He also holds a Diploma Certificate in Peace Journalism. He has over 15 years of work experience in both print and online media. He derives joy in keeping the public abreast of current happenings locally and internationally through his writings.
Source: Legit.ng
