Youth leader defies Makinde, insists herders must vacate Oyo community

There is currently tension in Igangan community in Ibarapa area of Oyo state following the eviction notice to herders by Sunday Adeyemo, a youth leader better known as Sunday Igboho.

On January 16, Igboho led some youths to Saliu Abdulkadir, Sarkin Fulani of Oyo state, to register displeasure over the recent killings in the axis.

Blaming the attacks and kidnappings in the area on herders, Igboho gave them a seven-day ultimatum to vacate Oyo.

Seyi Makinde, the state governor, had countered Igboho, saying his administration will not accept issuance of ultimatums for any group of persons to leave Oyo.

Makinde had said the enemies of the state are bandits and kidnappers, not herders seeking pasture for their flock.

However, Igboho ignored Makinde and together with his supporters stormed Ibarapa on Friday to effect the eviction notice.

He insisted that the herders must vacate the area, accusing them of killing Yoruba.

Speaking with BBC Yoruba, Igboho said if the government fails to secure the lives and property of its people, then they will rise to defend themselves.

“They are saying I am not in government and that I am meddling with what does not concern me. If there is government and it is not doing what it is supposed to do, the people that voted will rise up,” Igboho said.

“It’s not like I commanded the Fulani to leave our land or that I suddenly said something arbitrarily. For like two weeks now, these Fulani people in Ibarapa have been killing our people. Look at this Doctor Fatai, who went abroad for many years to work; he made his money, came back to his father’s village in Igangan, built farms and employed people to work with him. Fulani people ate the farm for him, he approached the Seriki of the Fulani that this ought not to be, and they killed him there.”

Commercial and educational activities have been put on hold as residents have remained in their homes out of the fear of being caught in clashes.

Makinde has ordered the police to arrest anyone found stocking ethnic tension in the state.