Herdsmen Attack: This Is Our Land, We Will Defend It – Eselu Of Iselu Kingdom

Some communities in Ogun State’s Yewa North Local Government Area are experiencing palpable anxiety as a result of the prospect of new attacks by alleged killer herdsmen. These are Oja-Odan, Ibeku, Asa, and Agbon villages.

Last Saturday, the unidentified herders warned the vulnerable neighborhoods of an attack on houses and trees, confusing the entire neighborhood.

The herders warned the chiefs of the impacted communities to prepare for their wrath between December and January in a letter that they wrote in English and Hausa.

The letter reads:

“Attention! Attention!! Attention!! To all following communities: Asa, Agbon, lbeku, Oja-odan and environs. You think you can send away our people from the land they bought in Nigeria, our fathers’ land, you kill our people, you kill their cows, you take over all their properties, you think you can go Scot-free. It’s high time we came for revenge.

“All the above-mentioned communities’ leaders should prepare for the war between December and January. We are coming to take back our father’s property.”

You may recall that in the first quarter of 2021, farmers and herdsmen clashed, resulting in fatalities in the impacted areas. Many locals were forced to flee their homes and seek safety in the neighboring Benin Republic.

After agitator for the Yoruba Nation, Sunday Igboho, went to Igua in Yewa North to evict some Fulani herders, the dispute reached its height. After Sunday Igboho’s visit, some enraged teenagers set fire to the Fulani village near Igua.

In retaliation, some said ranchers raided numerous communities, killing locals and torching homes. Governor Dapo Abiodun and a few other northern governors had to step in to put the situation under control.

Oba Akintunde Akinyemi, the Eselu of Iselu Kingdom, urged the citizens and natives of the areas listed to maintain their composure and carry on with their everyday lives fearlessly because the state government was monitoring the situation.

His statements:

“I want to appeal to our people to stay calm and continue to go about their daily activities without fear. When I got to know about the letter, I immediately called Governor Abiodun on phone and as a proactive governor, he swung into action. I want to assure our people that the governor is fully aware of the threat and he is in touch with different security agencies in the state.

“Therefore, I want to advise those behind the purported letter to stay off our communities. The land belongs to us. We own the land, nobody should come and threaten us on our fathers’ land. This is Ogun State in Nigeria, it is not Niger Republic. If they come, they will have themselves to blame, because they will be arrested and prosecuted according to the law of the land. Our security agencies are battle ready for them. Indigenes of the listed communities and adjourning communities are also ready for them