Miyetti Allah says herdsmen committing crimes are not residents in the town as stakeholders from Ibarapaland in Oyo State have declared readiness to support measures to halt the area’s insecurity. 

They shared their views in separate interviews with the News Agency of Nigeria.

Ibarapaland consists of Igboora, Eruwa, Idere, Igangan, Ayete, Tapa, and Lanlate.

The seven towns had recently witnessed killings, rape, kidnap, and farmland destructions suspected to be carried out by herdsmen.

The situation had led to the Fulani herdsmen given an ultimatum to vacate the area. Ibrahim Jiji, the state’s Chairman of Miyetti Allah Cattle Breeders Association of Nigeria, appealed for the crisis’s amicable resolution.

Mr. Jiji told NAN that the recent development was unfortunate, appealing to the state government to do everything within its capability towards resolving the impasse.

He appealed to Governor Seyi Makinde to set up a peace and security committee at the local government level, pledging their readiness to cooperate with the committee and obey the government’s policies.

“I have spent more than 35 years in Oyo state, and I know the Yoruba people to be peace-loving. There would always be bad eggs in every society or group.

“Herdsmen who have been destroying plantations on farmlands are not those residing in the town, but strangers. When we suspected some herders, we handed them over to Amotekun outfit. I believe their commandant can confirm this,” he said.

Adedamola Badmus, the Olu-Aso of Iberekodoland in Igboora, said the recent spate of insecurity in Ibarapaland was unfortunate. The monarch, who described the people of Ibarapaland as peace-loving, attributed the genesis of the crisis to open grazing by herders.

He said, “the crisis started from farmers-herders clashes. There would always be clashes when cattle destroy farmlands. Most farmers suffer a lot and lose a huge amount to farmland destruction.

“There are so many issues such as kidnap, rape, destruction of farmlands and killings to address, but the process should begin from the prohibition of open grazing.” 

He added, “Fulani residents in the town were not chased from the town. We only ensured that no strangers are allowed to infiltrate their ranks to cause further chaos.

“This is one of the demands of our subjects, and we stand by it. As traditional rulers, we are doing our best to ensure peace reigns in our respective domains.”

Sunday Titiloye, the Elempe of Tapa, said the suspected herders had killed no fewer than 10 indigenes of Ibarapa.

“The Oyo State government should call a meeting to put find a solution to the crisis,” he said.

Raheem Gafar, Balogun Asawo of Ayete, said his people were predominantly farmers who planted cassava, maize, among other crops.

“Don’t forget that our people obtain loans to farm and the lenders will not tolerate any excuse, you must pay back their money,” he said.

When contacted, Kingsley Onikola, the Onidere of Idereland, said they had already sought the governor’s audience on the situation.

He said the traditional rulers would be meeting the governor on Thursday (today) to present their people’s demands and possible ways of arresting the situation.