… Residents appeal to Makinde to beef up border security
Residents of Ibadan have called on the Oyo state governor, Engr. Seyi Makinde to beef up security in around border communities in the state to protect the people against the dreaded Bororo fulanis following the eviction order given the fulanis by neighbouring Ogun state communities.
Following the killing of some farmers, especially one farmer and his children by Bororo fulani herders at Alabata , in Odeda Local Government of Ogun state, the fulani herders were ordered by the community leaders to vacate the land or face the wrath of the people.
However, fears heightened on Wednesday’s night when Alabata community leaders passed information to all neighbouring communities , including Ibadan border communities, warning them against accommodating the evicted Bororo fulanis who were alleged to have killed their people.
It was learnt that the evicted Bororo fulanis’ movement out of their host communities began Wednesday night , with their cows .
Some communities who had been placed on security alert , were said to have raised the alarm at midnight ( Wednesday) when they witnessed movement of cows in their communities at such an unholy hours .
There were burn fires , gun shots and vigilante patrol all through the night to check the movement of bororo fulani herdsmen who were said to have masterminded the killing at Alabata.
The affected Ibadan border communities included Bakatari, Ilupeju, Eleso, Ago-Tente, and Aba- Oke , all in Ido Local Government of Oyo state.
Speaking with The Nation , one of the elders of the communities, Pa. Joshua Badejo who informed that the matter had been reported at Omi- Adio Police Division, Ibadan, appealed to governor Seyi Makinde to strenghten the existing security apparatus in the border communities since the only route where the fulani herders do take is rural areas/ border communities.
He said ” We were informed by our people in Odeda that the bororo fulani herdsmen will be moving out of their area, after killing their people . And following the warning , we placed our people on alert that we dont want such strangers to settle here in our communities. We don’t want bloodshed here.
” Here in our communities, we have fulani herders . We have been living together as one family , they bought lands, and build their houses with their families. What we have told them now is that we dont want them to accommodate any stranger that will bring trouble here . If they notice any stranger, they should inform us , that is why we have invited them to a meeting with leaders of the communities.
“We don’t want bororo fulani herders who will slaughter our people. And that is why we are calling on our governor to help us .”
He disclosed that many of the residents could not sleep , as they all kept vigil till day break in a move to ward off the evicted bororo herders from Alabata, Odeda, Ogun state.