A community leader in Ibarapa Land, Prince Ademola Ayoade, who hails from Oyo State has narrated their experience in the hands of some Fulani Herdsmen before the Yoruba activist, Sunday Igboho came to their rescue.
He spoke with The SUN how the relationship between farmers in Ibarapa land and the Fulani herdsmen transited from good to bad, bad to worse and worse to worst.
He revealed that when he was growing up, Fulani herders had a good relationship with them as they normally come out with their cows around 2pm to graze on their football field, and in turn, they give them cheese; fulani herders were very friendly, good and nice, they co existed with Ibarapa people in peace and harmony.
He revealed that it got to a time when they started committing atrocities and they did not start with kidnapping, but with robbery. Herdsmen would use their cows to cross the road, and wjen they see any vehicle coming, they will stop it and rob the passengers. The community leader said that about 28 people have been kidnapped and nine were killed because their families did not pay a ransom.
He revealed that the killer herdsmen make use of Fulani commercial motorcyclists and some indigenes who gave them information about rich people in Ibarapa and those who have relations overseas, and when they kidnap, they torture and when ransom is not paid, they kill their kidnap victims.
He said the Sarkin Fulani in Igangan was so powerful to the point that even the indigenes were afraid of him. Whenever his children commit a crime, he would threaten the Police by saying he is going to call the Inspector General of Police and Presidency, who he said are his people and when they hear this, they will release his children.
He also said that the Sarkin Fulani has a detention cell in his house before it was burnt and he acts as a middleman when killer herdsmen kidnap their victims and demand for a ransom.
He revealed that they had no option but to seek for help and that was when they called Sunday Igbobo when they heard that he chased away Fulani in Igboho and Igbeti to intervene. Sunday Igboho came to our rescue after the government abandoned us to our fate.
Sunday Igboho came to study the place and he was surprised with what he found out as Fulani herdsmen raped their indigenes, those below 14 and even those who are old; he said there was a case of two women 65 and 70-year-old woman who were raped .
Having heard this, do you think Fulani herders should still be allowed to stay in these places?
