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According to Vanguard, the Eselu of Iselu, in Yewa North Local Government Area of Ogun State, Oba Akintunde Akinyemi, has raised the alarm over the arrival of herdsmen in the state ,saying, many people lost their lives last year when they invaded the communities under his domain .
The Monarch however, disclosed that despite that an Ogun State High Court sitting in Ilaro has given a judgement restricting herdsmen from some parts of the town ,the herdsmen still invading some farmlands to graze for their herds .
Oba Akinyemi while addressing newsmen as part of activities to mark his 12th year on the throne, said ,the herdsmen only meet the Security agents and ministry of Agric and later ove to the farm.
The monarch said the major occupation of people in these communities was farming, and from this they made money to send their children to school, and met other responsibilities.
He lamented that the activities of the Fulani herdsmen in communities such as Oja Odan, Asa among others, where they had destroyed farmlands, farm produce and killed farmers, who had spoken against such wanton destruction, must be checked.
This, he said, had made many people in these communities to abandon farming and some of them could no longer send their children to school.
He recounted a scenario in Asa village, where the herdsmen had ordered a farmer to open his grains’ silo, and they(herdsmen) fed everything to their herd of cows, while the farmer watched helplessly.
Oba Akinyemi, said another dry season had commenced, and the herdsmen had started arriving in some communities in the area.
He called on the necessary authorities in the state, especially the Ministry of Agriculture, to quickly rise up to its responsibilities, and warned the herdsmen to either steer clear of the communities or allow peace and order to reign by not taking their herd to people’s farmlands for grazing.
He said, “Many of my people had been killed by these Fulani herdsmen and I don’t want that continue anymore.
“They will just take their herd of cows and invade farmlands, crops and other farm produce, were at the mercy of their herd.
“Some of the farmers met on their farms were ordered by the herdsmen to open their grains’ silos and they fed the grains to their herd. Some of those who resisted were killed.
” I have observed now that the dry is setting in the herdsmen had started arriving. I am appealing to all the relevant government agencies, especially the state Ministry of Agriculture, to rise up to their responsibilities.
“They should either steer clear of my communities or they should allow peace and order to reign by not invading people’s farmlands with their herd of cows.
“There was a time in Asa village, where some people suspected to be herdsmen invaded a church having a vigil and slaughtered everyone there. This should not happen again, that is why I am making this appeal.”
Oba Akinyemi, said his domain had witnessed development, since he assumed the throne 12 years ago.
He said he had facilitated rural electrification in many of the communities, and rid the communities of criminals in conjunction with the relevant security agencies among others.
