According to the press statement issued under the aegis of Ketu Advancement Forum, the body lamented deaths and wanton destruction of farm produce by suspected herders under an alleged renewed siege of Fulani herdsmen in the last five months
”Without going into the hostilities of over 15 years, all of which the State is well aware of, we like to tell the whole world that most communities in Ketu Local Council Development Area (LCDA) have come under the renewed siege of Fulani herdsmen for about five months now.”
”Our farmers have been sent away from their farms, over 30 primary schools have been shut down, health facilities closed and economic activities paralysed.” they said
”Our farmers have been sent away from their farms, over 30 primary schools have been shut down, health facilities closed and economic activities paralysed.” they said
”The crisis started on December 10, 2017 when aged women were attacked with a machete in-between Moro and Eegelu villages for their refusal to submit themselves to be raped by the herdsmen.
“Nine days after, on December 19, 2017, the herdsmen were out again, killing one Mr. Olabisi Tangu Afolabi and setting his corpse ablaze at Oosada village.”
“Nine days after, on December 19, 2017, the herdsmen were out again, killing one Mr. Olabisi Tangu Afolabi and setting his corpse ablaze at Oosada village.”
“During the Christmas celebrations, they struck again on December 25, 2017 and killed one Mr. Adegoke Olude at Ogunba Ayetoro however, with the active collaboration of our local vigilante group, three of the suspected killers namely Mohammed Bello (40), Muhammed Momoh (30) and Yisau Umoru (18) were arrested and later paraded personally by the State Police Commissioner, Mr. Ahmed Illyasu with an AK47 riffle, pieces of 0.8mm live ammunition, 26 live cartridges and two sharp cutlasses which were recovered from them.”
“We also wish to note that three days after a stakeholders meeting convened by Ketu LCDA on January 25, 2018 at the instance of the State Commissioner of Police and Ketu Advancement Forum (KAF), which had the herdsmen in attendance, the herders broke loose again into our farms, hewing down palm and teak trees for herds to graze on.
“Surprisingly, when the local people went to inspect the damage done to their farms, the herders again opened fire on them with the locals sustaining gunshots wounds of various degrees”
”This incident was well documented at the Police Area Command Office, Ilaro.”
”Presently, the atmosphere is charged as areas like Ikotun, Ologiri, Akeru, Ilukan, Ijege and Ajibode have continued to come under the influx of herdsmen”
”We insist that there is no land for open grazing in our LCDA for two major reasons namely:
“The herders have proven over the years to be deadly and incapable of co-habiting with our people, judging by the woes they have continuously visited on us for over 15 years now.” they sad
”We insist that there is no land for open grazing in our LCDA for two major reasons namely:
“The herders have proven over the years to be deadly and incapable of co-habiting with our people, judging by the woes they have continuously visited on us for over 15 years now.” they sad
”There is acute shortage of farmland in Ketu LCDA as the State Government had already taken the chunk of the people’s land for four forest reserves located at Tobolo/Aworo, Eggua, Oja-Odan and Ohunbe while another large expanse of land had been taken for the Ogun and Lagos States Rice Plantations at Eggua.
“The little land remaining is overcrowded and therefore grossly inadequate for farming, which is our people’s only occupation.”
“We are calling on Mr. Governor to rise up and perform the primary objective of giving us security by doing the following amongst others:
”Engage meaningfully with our people on measures being taken by his government to guarantee our security from the heartless Fulani herdsmen. To us, there is no way the State Government can claim to be working to secure our lives in this matter that we will not know.”
”Provide strong logistic support to the Implementation Committee contained in the MoU midwifed by the State Government among parties on the matter in December 2012, which involved the Police, Nigerian Army, other security agencies, local vigilante groups and representatives of Miyetti Allah in Ogun State, to enable them patrol the black spots with a view to keeping the marauding herders at bay.”
”Engage meaningfully with our people on measures being taken by his government to guarantee our security from the heartless Fulani herdsmen. To us, there is no way the State Government can claim to be working to secure our lives in this matter that we will not know.”
”Provide strong logistic support to the Implementation Committee contained in the MoU midwifed by the State Government among parties on the matter in December 2012, which involved the Police, Nigerian Army, other security agencies, local vigilante groups and representatives of Miyetti Allah in Ogun State, to enable them patrol the black spots with a view to keeping the marauding herders at bay.”
Cause the Ogun State House of Assembly (OGHA) to expedite action on the passage of the bill on the matter currently before it.”
”Set up a special Tasks Force to monitor and regulate movements across the borders in our area, particularly of cattle rustlers, armed herders and others that have been identified as aggravating internal tension and insecurity in Ketu axis.”
”Take any other concrete measures as it deems fit to secure the lives of our people and create conducive atmosphere for us to go about our daily lawful businesses.”
” We hope that the State Government will see our statement as a sincere wake up call, and act in line with her constitutional duties to guarantee our “security and well-being”.
”Set up a special Tasks Force to monitor and regulate movements across the borders in our area, particularly of cattle rustlers, armed herders and others that have been identified as aggravating internal tension and insecurity in Ketu axis.”
”Take any other concrete measures as it deems fit to secure the lives of our people and create conducive atmosphere for us to go about our daily lawful businesses.”
” We hope that the State Government will see our statement as a sincere wake up call, and act in line with her constitutional duties to guarantee our “security and well-being”.
