…Storms Ibarapa, Asks Herders To Leave
…Makinde Tells CP To Arrest Persons Stoking Ethnic Tension In Oyo
By Abiola Olawale
O’odua Activist, Sunday Adeyemo, popularly known as Igboho, defied Oyo State Governor, Seyi Makinde on Friday as he stormed Igangan, in Ibarapa North local government of Oyo state to continue with his push for the evacuation of all bandits who are masquerading as herders in the area.
Following the end of the 7-day ultimatum he had earlier issued to all the herders to vacate Ibarapa, Igboho fulfilled his promise by storming the town to ensure compliance to his directives.
Igboho disregarded the directive earlier given by Governor Makinde, who said no one has the right to order anyone out of the state.
He stated that he is determined to restore peace back to Yorubaland regardless of any opposition that comes his way.
The freedom fighter had released a video in the early hours of Friday, announcing his coming to Ibarapa.
In his words, “Who says we are not going again? Infact we are going right now. We thank Alaafin. I said earlier that we have the backing of ‘Iku Baba Yeye’. I swear by God who has my life in his hands that we will go to Ibarapa today. I’m talking from my house right now on Friday morning. We are preparing to go to Ibarapa, let me finish my tea. I’m promising my brothers and sisters in Ibarapa and Yorubaland that peace will be restored in the land. Whoever in Yorubaland backing the Fulani to perpetrate their crimes will perish with their generation.”
Following the vow he made earlier on Friday, Igboho arrived at the town. He was received by many people who commended him for his strife to ensure that the security of the town is restored.
While speaking to the crowd who came out to receive him, he said he is committed to fight anyone that wants to disturb the peace of the town and the Yoruba land at large.
In his words, “I’m assuring you that no one will henceforth kidnap or unleash terror on you. This is your father’s land. We are not fighting anyone who doesn’t disturb our peace. We are law-abiding provided you don’t trample on our rights to live peacefully in our land. It’s not only Ibarapa we will liberate, we will visit other Yoruba States where the visitors are terrorising them. We say no to kidnapping, rape and killing of our people.”
It would be recalled that Igboho had given the herders in Ibarapa a 7-day ultimatum to vacate the land over the recent killings and rape cases in the area. He made this known during his visit to the king’s palace of Ayete a week ago.
Meanwhile, Governor Makinde of Oyo State has asked the new Commissioner for Police in the state, Ngozi Onadeko to arrest persons stoking ethnic tension in Oyo.
Makinde gave the directive when Onadeko paid him a courtesy visit, Friday.
The Governor condemned the quit notice issued to the Fulani herders by Sunday Igboho.
Makinde said, “This is a period where false information is almost at its highest, ethnic tension almost at its highest. You have your job cut out for you. We’ll give you maximum support. “I’m sure you have heard of things happening in Ibarapa axis of the state.
“I will insist that we’re not after Hausa-Fulani; we are after criminals, armed robbers, hoodlums, bandits, irrespective of their tribe, religion or creed. When we had an incident at Okeho, some people were killed, some were arrested and we found out that they were Igbira, that is from Kogi State.
“For people stoking ethnic tension, they are criminals and they should be arrested and treated as common criminals.
“For this administration, a major pillar for us is security because we know that all the good things we want to do economically won’t be possible in an atmosphere of chaos, insecurity. When people say things that are not lawful, that are not within the spirit of the Nigerian constitution, it is not acceptable here and they cannot hide under being people protecting Yoruba interest to perpetrate chaos in this state.”
