OYO: Herdsmen, farmers on fresh collision course

An imminent clash beween farmers and Fulani herdsmen may be brewing in Ido Local Government Area of Oyo State.

Hundreds of farmers in the area have threatened a reprisal attack, if nothing is done to stop the alleged invasion of their farms by Fulani herdsmen.

Over 400 aggrieved farmers from various villages, including Abokede, Onikanga, Mabolese, Alatori, Agbetu and Olorode, yesterday marched on Omi-Adio, a town close to Ibadan, the state capital, to protest “the recurring invasion of their farms by Fulani herdsmen”.

They claimed they had lost their farm yields to the invasion. Led by the Secretary, Osho Forestry Reserve, Asimiyu Yusuf, the protesting farmers claimed that most of the victims were from Adedapo, Olorode, Keji, Aboke, Pelu, Alagbe, Gbagba Elewure and Areyinjetu.

Yusuf said: “Many of us have been ruined, following the incessant invasion of our farms by the grazing cattle of these Fulani herdsmen. We have no other means of livelihood.

“This year, some of our members were matcheted on their farms by invading Bororos; nothing seems to have been done by the authorities to checkmate them.”



The aggrieved farmers said the armed herdsmen have also been striking at night.

It was also alleged that the invaders, at times, raped some of the farmers’ wives.

The protesting farmers, who complained to the police and the Department of State Security (DSS), called on the government to intervene.

The Sardaunan Yamma and Sarkin Sasa, Alhaji Haruna Maiyasin, promised to intervene in the matter.

Maiyasin pleaded with the farmers not to take the law into their hands as the issues would be resolved.