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25022021 - Way out of Nigeria’s security problems

Vanguard Newspaper 24 February 2021

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26 — Vanguard, THURSDAY, FEBRUARY 25, 2021<br />

How to end farmers/herders’ crises<br />

— YCE, AFENIFERE, AGBEKOYA, HUNTERS<br />

•We’ve lost over 60 members — FARMERS’ ASSOCIATION<br />

By Dayo Johnson, Dapo<br />

Akinrefon, Ola Ajayi,<br />

Rotimi Ojomoyela, Shina<br />

Abubakar & James<br />

Ogunnaike<br />

THE clash between farmers and<br />

herders across the coun-try has<br />

led to sorrow, tears and blood.<br />

Already, tongues are wagging over<br />

the rising conflict between herders<br />

and farmers in Nigeria especially in<br />

the S<strong>out</strong>h-West which is taking a<br />

dangerous dimension if not urgently<br />

nipped in the bud.<br />

There have been repeated calls on<br />

governments, at all levels, to wade<br />

in and calm frayed nerves by finding<br />

a lasting solution before it degenerates<br />

to a level that can no longer be<br />

salvaged.<br />

Unfortunately, the violence between<br />

herders and farmers has<br />

escalated, killing more than 1,300<br />

people since January 2018.<br />

Also, it has been discovered that<br />

three factors have been identified to<br />

aggravate the decades-long conflict.<br />

They include the environmental<br />

degradation in the far north and<br />

encroachment upon grazing<br />

grounds in the Middle Belt: militia<br />

attacks; the poor government response<br />

to distress calls and failure to<br />

punish past perpetrators; and new<br />

laws banning open grazing in some<br />

states.<br />

With the incursion <strong>of</strong> killer herdsmen<br />

into the S<strong>out</strong>h-West, stakeholders<br />

are no longer at ease with these<br />

pastoralists, who have seen the region<br />

as a haven to unleash terror on their<br />

hosts.<br />

S-West govs should enforce<br />

anti-open grazing law<br />

The Director-General <strong>of</strong><br />

Development Agenda for Western<br />

Nigeria, DAWN, Mr. Seye Oyeleye,<br />

proposed the enforcing <strong>of</strong> open grazing<br />

law in the region saying it will<br />

solve the problem <strong>of</strong> incessant<br />

herders/farmers clashes.<br />

Oyelele said: “Our governor<br />

should use the police and Amotekun<br />

to enforce the ban on open grazing.<br />

You can’t make a law and go to bed<br />

expecting that it would be complied<br />

with. Former Governor Ayo Fayose<br />

enforced the law when he was there.<br />

Our governors are serious but to<br />

be seen as serious, they must enforce<br />

the anti-open grazing law.<br />

“Open grazing has been banned<br />

by states in the S<strong>out</strong>h-West and we,<br />

at the DAWN Commission, believe<br />

this is the first step towards ensuring<br />

<strong>security</strong> in our forests.<br />

“Everybody must comply, we don’t<br />

want open grazing. It is the way <strong>of</strong><br />

life <strong>of</strong> some people to graze cows but<br />

that way <strong>of</strong> life is harmful to our own<br />

way <strong>of</strong> life which is agriculture and<br />

it must stop.”<br />

But the Yoruba Council <strong>of</strong> Elders,<br />

YCE; the pan-Yoruba socio-political<br />

organisation, Afenifere; the<br />

Agbekoya Farmers’ Society, and the<br />

Soludero Hunters’ Association,<br />

share different views to the farmers/<br />

herders’ clashes.<br />

There’s no clash but terror<br />

from herders — Afenifere<br />

On his part, Yinka Odumakin,<br />

National Publicity Secretary <strong>of</strong> the<br />

pan-Yoruba socio-political<br />

organisation, Afenifere, insisted that<br />

there is no clash between herders and<br />

farmers but terror from herders.<br />

Odumakin said: “There is no clash<br />

but terror from herders. The way <strong>out</strong><br />

is for government to become governmental<br />

or for the people to fight<br />

back as the Minister <strong>of</strong> Defence has<br />

advised. But enough is enough!"<br />

Govs must ensure<br />

enforcement <strong>of</strong> the law<br />

— Agbekoya<br />

While pr<strong>of</strong>fering solution to the<br />

conflicts, the Agbekoya Farmers’<br />

Society, who spoke through its<br />

National Publicity Secretary, Chief<br />

Olatunji Bandele said: “The S<strong>out</strong>h-<br />

West governors should enact a law<br />

banning open grazing <strong>of</strong> cattle and<br />

ensure the enforcement <strong>of</strong> the law.<br />

“<strong>Nigeria’s</strong> porous land borders<br />

should be properly manned to<br />

prevent illegal foreign Fulani herdsmen<br />

from entering Nigeria and the<br />

S<strong>out</strong>h-West.<br />

Also, erring criminal herdsmen,<br />

bandits and kidnappers should be<br />

prosecuted. The federal and<br />

state governments should conduct<br />

farmers and herdsmen enumeration<br />

and issue identity cards to them.”<br />

Herdsmen should stop<br />

destroying farmlands<br />

— Hunters Association<br />

While speaking with Vanguard in<br />

a telephone interview, the National<br />

President <strong>of</strong> Soludero Hunters' Association,<br />

Oba Wahab Anabi expressed<br />

worry over the pains inflicted<br />

on farmers and their families in the<br />

region.<br />

Anabi said: “In this year alone, they<br />

have killed over 40 people across the<br />

state. People keep calling me to inform<br />

me ab<strong>out</strong> the atrocities <strong>of</strong> these<br />

herders. I don’t know how many<br />

women they have raped. They are<br />

too many.<br />

“We are not <strong>out</strong> to kill Fulani<br />

because they are our brothers. We are<br />

ready to live in peace with them. But,<br />

any Fulani herder caught with<br />

dangerous weapons will be arrested<br />

and handed over to the police.<br />

“Also, those Fulani herders whose<br />

intention is to kill, rape, maim our<br />

people and destroy our farms will be<br />

arrested. Now, we Soludero Hunters’<br />

Association, are in Oke-Ogun<br />

area <strong>of</strong> Oyo State. We are here to<br />

ensure that all those bad eggs among<br />

Fulani herders are fished <strong>out</strong>.<br />

“We promise our people that by<br />

the time we are able to fish <strong>out</strong> these<br />

bandits, they will experience a great<br />

relief.”<br />

When asked how the issue could<br />

be resolved, he simply said the violent<br />

Fulani herders must stop kidnap-<br />

ping, raping women and destroying<br />

their farmlands.<br />

He said: “The only way <strong>out</strong> is for<br />

Fulani herders to stop disturbing the<br />

peace <strong>of</strong> our zone. When they stop<br />

kidnapping people, raping our<br />

women and destroying our means<br />

<strong>of</strong> livelihood which is farming, there<br />

will be peace. But, you don’t expect<br />

us to fold our arms while our promising<br />

men and women are being<br />

hacked down.<br />

"We are ready to live in peace with<br />

those Fulani who are not violent or<br />

armed with dangerous weapons.”<br />

We’ve lost many members<br />

— Farmers’ association<br />

The Chairman, Ondo State Agricultural<br />

Commodities Association,<br />

OSACA, Gbenga Obawoya<br />

expressed worry that no fewer than<br />

FARMERS KILLED BY<br />

HERDSMEN SINCE<br />

JANUARY 2021<br />

OYO — 40<br />

ONDO — 10<br />

OGUN — 15<br />

OSUN — 1<br />

10 farmers have been gruesomely<br />

murdered since January this year by<br />

the herders adding that the herders<br />

have destroyed farmlands worth over<br />

N500m since January this year.<br />

Obawoya said: “Because <strong>of</strong> the<br />

stigma, those who have been raped<br />

kept it to themselves with<strong>out</strong><br />

reporting to the association. But<br />

many wives and daughters <strong>of</strong> farmers<br />

have been raped in their presence<br />

on their farms. It is really a pitiable<br />

experience.”<br />

On his part, the Chairman <strong>of</strong> the<br />

All Farmers Association <strong>of</strong> Nigeria,<br />

in Ogun State, Chief Segun Dasaolu<br />

said: “The State government has set<br />

up a Conflicts Resolution<br />

Committee, which I am the<br />

chairman. The committee will,<br />

among other things, uncover the root<br />

cause <strong>of</strong> the problem and the number<br />

<strong>of</strong> casualties.”<br />

Investigation by Vanguard revealed<br />

that no fewer than 15 persons<br />

had been killed by Fulani herdsmen<br />

in different parts <strong>of</strong> Ogun State between<br />

January and now.<br />

Also, a farmer identified as Ridwan<br />

was killed on his farm at Boole<br />

village via Ijabe in Osun State after<br />

a fight ensued between the deceased<br />

and herdsmen, following the<br />

destruction <strong>of</strong> his farm by the latter’s<br />

herd.<br />

The secretary <strong>of</strong> farmers association<br />

in the state, Adewale Wahab said<br />

the deceased was killed on January<br />

12, 2021 at a village in Ijabe, Odo-<br />

Otin Local Government Area <strong>of</strong> the<br />

state.<br />

Our morale is low in Oyo<br />

— Amotekun <strong>of</strong>ficial<br />

One <strong>of</strong> the coordinators <strong>of</strong><br />

Amotekun in Oyo State, who is not<br />

authorised to speak, confided in<br />

Vanguard that from January to date,<br />

Fulani herders have killed several<br />

people.<br />

The operative said: “I can confirm<br />

that they have killed a lot <strong>of</strong> people.<br />

I have lost count <strong>of</strong> their number.”<br />

The <strong>of</strong>ficial used the opportunity<br />

to tell Vanguard that the morale <strong>of</strong><br />

his colleagues is down now because<br />

<strong>of</strong> one Amotekun operative the police<br />

arrested for the past 35 days over<br />

the death <strong>of</strong> a Fulani herder.<br />

The <strong>of</strong>ficial said: “There was a<br />

distress call and the <strong>of</strong>ficer was there<br />

to help but the Fulani herder opened<br />

fire on him, used machete but all<br />

these didn’t have effect on the<br />

Amotekun operative. It was then<br />

somebody shot the herder in the thigh.<br />

He started bleeding and was rushed<br />

to the hospital where he was confirmed<br />

dead.”<br />

“Despite the fact that it was not the<br />

operative that shot the herder, he was<br />

arrested and taken to Iyaganku. For<br />

over 35 days now, he is still being<br />

held by the police. His wife has been<br />

extorted many times to the extent that<br />

the grocery store she has went under.<br />

“The Amotekun operative has now<br />

been transferred to Oyo town. So,<br />

this has lowered the morale <strong>of</strong> other<br />

operatives. If such a thing could<br />

happen to a colleague, then it means<br />

we, too are at great risk.”<br />

Amotekun’ll ensure safe<br />

forest in Osun<br />

— Brig-Gen Adewinmbi<br />

When contacted, the Amotekun<br />

Corps Commandant in Osun State,<br />

Brig. Gen. Bashir Adewinmbi, retd,<br />

disclosed that though herdersfarmers’<br />

clash is minimal in the state<br />

but the corps is not relenting in<br />

ensuring the forests are safe for<br />

farmers.<br />

According to him, the state has<br />

mechanism in place with which it is<br />

settling crisis between farmers and<br />

herdsmen and avoid escalation. But<br />

the corps is not overlooking the<br />

possibility <strong>of</strong> any eventualities.<br />

Adewinmbi said: “Although the<br />

issue <strong>of</strong> violent clash between farmers<br />

and herdsmen is minimal here,<br />

possibly because <strong>of</strong> the peace committee<br />

on farmers-herdsmen<br />

relation put in place by the state government<br />

to resolve disputes before it<br />

escalates into crisis, however, the<br />

corps is not relenting to ensure<br />

measures are put in place to tackle<br />

any eventualities that may arise as a<br />

result <strong>of</strong> displacement <strong>of</strong> herdsmen<br />

from other states in the region.<br />

“We are also exploiting area <strong>of</strong><br />

common interests with our partners<br />

in a bid to ensure our forests, along<br />

border lines, are also secured.”<br />

Herders must be law abiding<br />

— Ondo Amotekun<br />

Commander<br />

For the Amotekun Commander in<br />

Ondo State, Chief Adetunji Adesina,<br />

the “only way <strong>out</strong> is for herders to<br />

stop destroying farmers' crops, the<br />

farmers are doing their business, the<br />

herders are doing their business, both<br />

<strong>of</strong> them are doing their businesses,<br />

they should respect each other’s<br />

position. You don’t expect the farmers<br />

to sit idle when their crops are<br />

destroyed by the herders.<br />

“Tactically, they are destroying the<br />

farmers’ economic base and that <strong>of</strong><br />

the herders are growing and that’s<br />

not fair. That’s why the government<br />

is not too happy ab<strong>out</strong> it.<br />

“You’ve the right to do your business<br />

and they also have the right to<br />

do theirs.<br />

“The herders should respect the<br />

law, once everybody is law abiding,<br />

there would not be clashes.<br />

“The herders can do their<br />

businesses anywhere in the country<br />

and the farmers can do theirs too.<br />

“If the herders are law-abiding and<br />

respect the right <strong>of</strong> others, there<br />

wouldn’t be any skirmishes.”<br />

Amotekun established to<br />

serve our people, — Ogun<br />

Amotekun Commandant<br />

On his part, the Commander <strong>of</strong><br />

Amotekun Corps in Ogun State, Mr.<br />

David Akinremi, said that the corps<br />

is established to serve the people <strong>of</strong><br />

the state<br />

He said all states in the S<strong>out</strong>h- West<br />

region <strong>of</strong> the country need to work<br />

and collaborate to guarantee<br />

<strong>security</strong> <strong>of</strong> lives and property that will<br />

allow indigenes and residents <strong>of</strong> the<br />

region to sleep with their two eyes<br />

closed.<br />

He said: “We are prepared, we are<br />

taking our time to ensure that we get<br />

the best available grassroots men<br />

who will be able to function<br />

adequately well towards achieving<br />

the vision and purpose <strong>of</strong> establishing<br />

the agency. We have been given<br />

the go-ahead to commence recruitment<br />

by His Excellency and we are<br />

working <strong>out</strong> modalities to ensure<br />

that we have quality men in line with<br />

the Ogun Standard <strong>of</strong> excellence.<br />

“The state has been known for<br />

producing fantastic men and women.<br />

We want to leverage on that and<br />

ensure that we have an effective take<strong>of</strong>f.<br />

On the issue <strong>of</strong> fear being<br />

expressed by our people, I want to<br />

assure them that we have come to<br />

work. We have come to serve them.<br />

“Our people have no cause to fear,<br />

we are on top <strong>of</strong> the situation. Notwithstanding<br />

that operatives have<br />

not taken <strong>of</strong>f, we are doing some<br />

strategic work underground on the<br />

<strong>security</strong> situation on hand, not just<br />

within the state but in the S<strong>out</strong>h-West<br />

as a whole.<br />

“I had cause to meet with my<br />

colleagues from other states trying<br />

to tap from their experiences to build<br />

up the <strong>security</strong> architecture that<br />

would meet our <strong>security</strong> challenges.<br />

“Criminals are everywhere! I hate<br />

it when people begin to pr<strong>of</strong>ile some<br />

set <strong>of</strong> people. Criminals abound<br />

everywhere.<br />

"All that is important is to make it<br />

clear to people that it is either you<br />

Continues on page 27

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