The quit notice issued last Friday to Fulanis residing in Igangan of Ibarapa North Local Government Area, Oyo state by a Yoruba freedom fighter, Sunday Igboho has been generating uneasy tension in the state.
Igboho gave a one-week deadline in protest of incessant killings and kidnappings in the State.
The activist gave the ultimatum when he met the Seriki of the Fulani, Saliu Kadri, to protest the killing of Yoruba individuals in recent times.
Igboho, had accused the Fulanis in Igangan of shielding the killers of an Oyo businessman and prominent farmer, Dr. Fatai Aborode and Alhaja Serifat Adisa, the owner of Subawah Petroleum, and her two children.
The activist explained that he acted on pleas by some Yoruba traditional rulers who said they were tired of the whole situation.
“When I got there, they complained of the murders that occurred lately. They expressed their helplessness, that the situation had become unbearable and they wanted the Fulani out.”
Igboho disclosed that the monarchs insisted the Northerners were behind killings and kidnappings in their domains.
“I asked about the head, they mentioned Seriki; that no one can confront him. I said how? They replied that Seriki is so powerful that when the police arrested his sons, he threatened a crisis within 72 hours. Of course the police released them,” he said.
Meanwhile, on Monday, Saliu Kadri, the Fulani Seriki urged the state government to take the 7-day ultimatum in all seriousness.
The ethnic head spoke when Governor Seyi Makinde’s aide on Security, Sunday Odukoya, visited Igangan over the matter.
Kadri denied that he and his people had a hand in murder and abductions recorded in recent months.
He insisted that marauders who enter Ibarapa from Zamfara, Kebbi and other locations were the culprits.
Kadir said the Fulani grew up, married, gave birth, built houses, set up businesses in Yoruba land and would not harm their fellow citizens.
In his remarks, Odukoya said the government had commenced an investigation into the threat and invasion of the community.
He stated that those found culpable would be made to face the full wrath of the law.
Odukoya stressed that the government never ordered the law-abiding residents to leave Oyo State.
The official told the Fulani people to remain calm and avoid reprisals.
Odukoya appealed to them to support the government by exposing criminal elements among them.
However, the one week ultimatum issued out to the Fulanis expires this Friday.
