The Olu of Ilaro and paramount ruler of Yewaland, Oba Kehinde Olugbenle, on Saturday raised the alarm that armed herdsmen have mapped out major towns in Yewaland (Ogun West Senatorial District) for deadly attacks.
Oba Olugbenle said the alarm had become necessary to draw the attention of President Muhammadu Buhari, Governor Dapo Abiodun and all security agencies in the state to the “continued siege” on Yewaland by armed herders.
The monarch, in a release at the weekend, lamented that the alleged criminal and murderous activities of armed herdsmen had led to loss of lives, outright slaughtering of people, maiming and destruction of property in Yewaland by the herders.
He appealed to President Buhari, Governor Abiodun and the security agencies to wake up as a matter of “extreme urgency” to their constitutional duties of securing lives and property by coming quickly to their help, protection and defence from killer-herdsmen.
He listed seven communities of Egua, Oja-Odan, Igan Alade, Gbokoto, Ijoun, Owode-Ketu, Ebute Igbooro, Imeko Afon and other places in Yewaland where the armed herdsmen and bandits had deadly attacks on the villagers and residents in the last couple of weeks.
According to him, a “stich in time, saves nine.”
It was learnt that no fewer than seven persons, including four persons allegedly killed on Friday night, had been hacked to death by persons suspected to be criminal herdsmen.
The Baale of Igbooro, Abidemi Akorede, who confirmed the Friday night attack, said he had counted three corpses as of noon time on Saturday.
Also, a member of Ogun State House of Assembly, Hon. Wahab Egungbohun, who had continued to lament over the incessant killing of his people, grieved that the alleged activities of criminal herders appeared to have picked with the leadership of President Muhammad Buhari.
He said: “On Thursday, some communities in Yewa North, that included Owode Ketu, Ijoun, Eggua, Igan-Alade, Tata were reportedly laid ambush by the herdsmen and killed two villagers.
“On Friday night again, heavily armed men entered Orile-Igbooro village in Yewa North and no fewer than four villagers were killed, some houses were also burnt down, while many people were left with varying degrees of injuries.
“It is clear that these herdsmen are behind the attacks. Ketu Constituency II has often witnessed violence attack stemming from disputes between the herdsmen and the farmers.
“Security is said to be a right of every citizen but reversed is the case in Ketu. We are not treated with fairness. Our farmers can’t go to farm, we can’t sleep with eyes closed. The Governor should empower other security agencies now.”
