Olayomi Koiki
OYO – A prominent family in Nigeria’s state of Oyo, the Ajele Family, has raised alarm over the threat posed by Fulani herdsmen, who have allegedly taken over their purchased farmland.
According to the Ajele Family, the herdsmen have been operating on their land, located in Awe, Oke Alapata, and Oniyere, despite repeated warnings.
“We are facing a serious threat from these Fulani herdsmen, who have taken over our family land,” a family member told a local news outlet.
“We have heard reports of attacks on our farmers, and we are worried about the safety of our people.”
The family emphasized that the land in question was purchased and not open to grazing.
However, the herdsmen have allegedly continued to occupy the land, leading to tensions between the family and the herdsmen.
“This is our family land, and we will not let anyone take it over,” a second source from the family said. “We are fully prepared to defend our land, but we are also calling on the government to intervene and protect our rights.”
“This is our land, and we will defend it at all costs.” the family said.
A viral video showed a man said to be one of the family members – confronting a cutlass-weilding herder for allegedly bringing his herds to the family’s farm. KOIKI Media couldn’t independently verify the video.
Police in the state could not be reached for comments.
The conflict between Fulani herdsmen and farmers in Nigeria has been a longstanding issue, resulting in violence and loss of lives.
The Fulani people are believed to be the largest semi-nomadic group globally, found across West and Central Africa. In Nigeria, some continue to live as semi-nomadic herders, while others have moved to cities. Unlike city dwellers, the nomadic groups spend most of their lives in the bush and are often involved in clashes with farming communities, and also engage in kidnapping for ransom. They herd their animals across vast areas, frequently clashing with local farmers.
The herders now bear sophisticated weapons and use them to terrorize many parts of the country, with security operatives ignoring many of the attacks for allegedly not getting orders to go after the criminals.
Several brutal attacks happened under former President Muhammadu Buhari, who was born to a Fulani family on 17 December 1942, in Daura, a town in Katsina State, northwest Nigeria.
The continuous unprovoked attacks triggered resistance in South-East region, inhabited by Igbo people and South-West region, inhabited by the Yoruba people.
A Yoruba activist and philanthropist, Chief Dr. Sunday Adeyemo, aka Sunday Igboho, demanded end to the attacks that have cost lives of thousands. He asked the Fulani people to vacate all the forests in South-West Nigeria.
As the Akoni Oodua of Yorubaland, he is known for fighting for the rights of the Yoruba people. He is currently advocating for a sovereign Yoruba country.
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