The Ogun State Solidarity Movement (OSM ) has caution Fulani herdsmen who are now moving into Ogun state in their large numbers to thread with caution so as not to forced the people of the state to forcefully ejects them.
The group gave this warning in a letter signed by its President Lekan Shobowale and made available to Journalists in Abeokuta, the state capital after an emergency meeting to discussed issues regarding the current security challenges in the state.
The group said it read in the dailies, just like all other Nigerians, the recent assault by soldiers at Ketu speaking villages in Yewa North Local Government Area of the state where soldiers were reported to have escorted herdsmen to graze in the community.
OSM also condemned an attack on one of the villagers, Seye Mulero who was badly hurt as he was flogged for speaking the truth to the soldiers.
“The herdsmen, who had departed the village after their continued presence was rejected by the villagers, had suddenly resurfaced at about 2PM on DECEMBER 19, 2020 with a handful of soldiers from the 35 Artillery Brigade, Alamala, Abeokuta.”
“The soldiers headed straight to the palace of the traditional ruler of the
community, Chief Olaleye Adigun, calling out the villagers and warning them
against preventing the evicted herdsmen from returning to the village. It was in
the middle of this strange encounter that Mulero told the soldiers that the
herders would not be allowed to remain in the community because of their
brutal killing of residents and the destruction of their farmlands in recent times.”
It was reported that Mulero’s blunt comments enraged the herdsmen who immediately asked the soldiers to deal with him. The military men allegedly responded promptly, seizing, kicking and flogging the young man mercilessly, leaving him with serious injuries.
The group also made reference to another attack by herders along Oru-Ijebu road where a woman driving in her car was also molested by unidentified herdsmen in the area.
“We in the Ogun State Solidarity Movement (OSM) hereby call on the Governor of Ogun State, Prince Dapo Abiodun, his deputy, who is from Yewa zone, the Senator representing the area, Senator Tolu Odebiyi and all other political appointees from the affected zones to step into the matter and bring to justice perpetrators so as to avert future occurrences.”
“In addition, we also want the state government and all other security agencies in the state to immediately begin 24 hours monitoring of Odeda Local Government Area, where the deposed Seriki Fulani of Oyo State, now claim he absconded to, in order to guard against the scenario of Igangan in Oyo and avoid breaking down of law and other in the state.”